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Q^^^-^ INSTRUCTIONS 



FROM THE 



C\, _ ,^ II [ „ ^ ^ X 



JNTS OF 



SEVERAL ACADEMIES SUBJECT TO THEIR VISITATION, 



PRESCRIBING THE REQUISITES AND FORMS 



ACADEMIC REPORTS, &c. 



REVISED EDITION. 



PREPARED IN OBEDIENCE TO AN ORDER OF THE REGENTS OF THE 
25th APRIL, 1838. 



ALBANY: 

PRINTED BY E. CROSWELL, PRINTER TO THE STATE. 

1838. 






\ 



Copies of these Instructions will be sent to every Academy in the State, 
subject to the visitation of the Regents ; one for the use of its principal and 
other teachers, to be preserved in its library, and one for the use of its trus- 
tees in making out their annual report, to be kept by their secretary or 
treasurer having charge of their books and papers. 

All future reports from academies must be made in strict conformity to 
the laws, ordinances and instiuctions herewith published; and they must be 
so made and transmitted to the Secretary of the University in time to be 
received by him on or before the 1st day of February in each year. Aca- 
demies failing to make their reports in conformity to the above requirements, 
will be liable to forfeit their share of the public moneys for the year in 
Avhich such failure shall happen. 

Academies incorporated by the legislature, and not already subject to the 
visitation of the Regents, but desirous to become so, will be supplied with 
copies of these instructions on application, by letter or otherwise, to the 
Secretary of the University. 

GIDEON HAWLEY, 

Secretary of the University. 

Albany, April, 1838. 



J 
^ 



INSTRUCTIONS, &c. 



The recent act of the Legislature, providing for the annual distribution 
among academies of an increased amount of public money, and prescribing 
new conditions* for its distribution, having required new, or additional ordi- 
nances and instructions from the Regents of the University on the subject 
of academic reports ; and it having been found that the ordinances on that 
subject heretofore passed by the Regents, with the instructions founded 
thereon, will in some respects be wholly superseded, and in others partiallj'- 
modified by the new ordinances and instructions required under the act of 
the Legislature above referred to ; it was therefore thought more advisable 
to prepare and issue an entire new edition of instructions, with the required 
modifications incorporated in them, than to issue new instructions supple- 
mentary to the old ones. This edition of instructions will therefore be found 
to contain all the existing regulations on the subject of academic reports, in 
force at the time of its publication, (April, 1838.) 

The leading requisites of academic reports to the Regents of the Uni- 
versity, having been prescribed in certain acts of the Legislature, and the 
ordinances of the Regents on the subject of such reports being founded on 
those acts, it is obviously proper to make them, as well as the ordinances 
founded on them, introductory to all instructions intended to aid in carrying 
them into execution. 

The following extracts from the Revised Statutes and Session Laws of the 
State, contain all the legal provisions on the subject ahove referred to. 

* The most important of these new conditions consists of the new principle introduced into 
the law above referred to, that every academy subject to the visitation of the Regents shall be 
required to have property invested in buildings, library and apparatus, of the value of $2,500, 
in order to entitle it to any future share of ihe public money. So tliat, however long an aca- 
demy may have been subject to the visitation of the Regents, and enjoyed a share of the pub- 
lic bounty, it will herealter be required to show, every year, property of the kind and value 
above stated, as the condition on which its future enjoyment of that bounty will depend. 

G. FI. 



EXTRACT. 

From Chapter XV. of the First Part of ike Revised Statutes, being Sec- 
tions 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 29, of Article ist of Title ist of said 
Chapter. 

^ 23. The regents shall have the control of the whole income arising 
from the literature fund, and shall annually divide such income into eight 
equal parts, and assign one part thereof to each senate district: They shall 
annually distribute the part so assigned to each district, among such of the 
incorporated seminaries of learning, exclusive of colleges, within such dis- 
trict, as are now subject, or shall become subject to their visitation by a valid 
corporate act. 

§ 24. Every such distribution shall be made in proportion to the number 
of pupils in each seminary, who, for four months during the preceding year 
shall have pursued therein classical studies, or the higher branches of En- 
glish education, or both. 

§ 25. No pupil in any such seminary shall be deemed to have pursued 
classical studies, unless he shall have advanced at least so far as to have 
read, in Latin, the first book of the yEneid ; nor to have pursued the higher 
branches of English education, unle.'^s he shall have advanced beyond such 
knowledge of arithmetic, (including vulgar and decimal fractions,) and 
English grammar and geography, as is usually obtained in common schools. 
^ 26. The regents shall require each seminary subject to their visitation, 
to make an annual return, on or before the first day of February in each 
year, to the secretary of their board. 

^ 27. Every such return shall be attested by the oath, either of the prin- 
cipal instructor in the seminary by which it shall be made, or of one of the 
trustees thereof, and shall contain, 

1. The names and ages of all the pupils instructed in such seminary dur- 
ing the preceding year, and the time that each was so instructed : 

2. A particular statement of the studies pursued by each pupil at the 
commencement of his instruction, and of his subsequent studies until the 
date of the report ; together whh the books such students shall have studied, 
in whole or in part ; and if in part, what portion : 

3. An account or estimate of the cost or value of the library, philosophi- 
cal and chemical apparatus, and mathematical and other scientific instru- 
ments belonging to the seminaries : 

4. The names of the instructors employed in the seminary, and the com- 
pensation paid to each: 

5. An account of the funds, income, debts and incumbrances of the semi- 
nary, and of the application therein of the moneys last received from the re- 
gents. 

^ 29. The regents shall prescribe the forms of all returns Avhich they 
shall require from colleges and other seminaries of learning, subject to their 
visitation ; and may direct such forms and instructions as, f^i'om time to time, 
shall be given by them as visiters, to be printed by the state printer. 



EXTRACl' 

From an act to appropriate the income of the United States Deposite Fund 
to the purposes of education and the diffusion of knoivledge. 

Passed April 17th, 1838. 

§ 8. The sum of twenty-eight thousand dollars, of the income aforesaid, 
shall be annually paid over, on and after the first day of January next, to 
the literature fund, which, together Avith the sura of twelve thousand dollars 
of the present literature fund, shall be annually distributed among the aca- 
demies in the several senatorial districts by the regents of the university, in 
the manner now provided by law ; but no academy shall hereafter be allow- 
ed to participate in the annual distribution of the literature fund, until the 
regents of the university shall be satisfied that a proper building has been 
erected and finished to furnish suitable and necessary accommodation for 
such school, and that such academy is furnished with a suitable library and 
philosophical apparatus, and that a proper preceptor has been and is em- 
ployed for the instruction of the pupils at such academy : And further, that 
the regents shall, on being satisfied that such building, library and appara- 
tus are sufficient for the purpose intended, and that the whole is of the value 
at least of twenty-five hundred dollars, permit such academy or school to 
place itself under the visitation of the regents, and thereafter to share in the 
distribution of the moneys above mentioned, or any other of the literature 
fund in the manner now provided by law. The regents of the university 
may also admit to such distribution and to any other of the literature fund, 
any incorporated school, or school founded and governed by any literary 
corporation other than theological or medical, in which the usual academic 
studies are pursued, and which shall have been in like manner subjected to 
their visitation, and would in all other respects, were it incorporated as an 
academy, be entitled to such distribution, 

§ 9. It shall be the duty of the regents of the university to require of 
every academy receiving a distributive share of public money under the 
preceding section equal to seven hundred dollars per annum, to establish and 
maintain in such academy a department for the instruction of common school 
teachers under the direction of the said regents as a condition of receiving 
the distributive share of every such academy. 

The following ordinance was passed by the Regents of the University in 
1828, pursuant to the provisions of the Revised Statutes, contained in the 
preceding extracts — it will be found to be modified by the subsequent ordi- 
nance of the Regents of April, 1838, particularly in respect to the description 
and value of academic property, and the requisites and forms of academic 
reports. 

ORDINANCE OF THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY, 

Defining Classical Studies and the Higher Branches of English Educa- 
tion pursued in Academies, and prescribing the requisites and forms of 
their An7iual Reports. 

Passed March 18, 1828. 
The Regents of the University, desirous to establish a more elevated 
course of instruction in the academies subject to their visitation, by defining 
with greater certainty the various branches of study which shall entitle the 



institution in which they are pursued to a distributive share cf the income 
of the literature fund, do ordain and declare as follows : 

The distribution of the income of said fund shall be made to each of said 
academies, in proportion to its number of scholars in the classics, and in 
the higher branches of English education, or both, under the following re- 
strictions : 

1. No students, in any such academy, shall be considered classical scho- 
lars, within the meaning of this ordinance, until they shall have studied in 
such academy, or elsewhere, so much of the common elementary prose au- 
thors, in Latin, as is equal to one-half of Corderius, one-half of Historia 
Sacra, one-third of Viri Romee, and two books of Cesar's Commentaries; 
and in addition thereto, shall have read the first book of the Mneid of Vir- 
gil. 

2. No students in any such academy, shall be considered scholars in the 
higher branches of English education, within the meaning of this ordinance, 
until they shall, on examination duly made, be found to have attained to 
such proficiency in the arts of reading and writing, and to have acquired 
such knowledge of the elementary rules or operations of arithmetic, com- 
monly called notation, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, as 
well in their compound as in their simple forms, and as well in vulgar and 
decimal fractions as in whole numbers, together with such knowledge of 
the parts of arithmetic commonly called reduction, practice, the single rule 
of three direct, and simple interest, as is usually acquired in the medium 
or average giade of common schools in this State; and until they shall also, 
on such examination, be found to have studied so much of English grammar 
as to be able to parse correctly any common prose sentence in the English 
language, and to render into good English the common examples of bad 
grammar given in Murray's or some other like grammatical exercises; and 
shall also have studied, in the oi'dinary way, some book or treatise on geo- 
graphy, equal in extent to the duodecimo edition of Morse's, Cumming's, 
Woodbridge's or Willett's geography, as now in ordinary use. 

3. No such classical students shall entitle the institution to which they 
belong to any share of the income of said fund, unless it shall appear from 
the annual report of such institution, that they have pursued therein, for the 
space of four months or upwards of the year ending on the date of such re- 
port, the studies herein before declared to be preliminary to Virgil, together 
with the first book of the ^neid of Virgil, or other studies in the classics 
(either in Latin or Greek) usually pursued subsequent to the first book of 
the said iEneid ; or shall, for a part of said period, have so pursued the said 
studies, or some of them, (including the said first book of the ^Eneid, or 
some of the said studies subsequent thereto,) and for the residue of said pe- 
riod, shall have pursued the higher branches of English education, after 
they shall have become scholars therein as herein before defined. 

4. No such scholars in the higher branches of English education, shall 
entitle the institution to which they belong to any share of said fund, unless 
it shall appear from the annual report of said institution, that they, after be- 
coming such scholars, have pursued therein said higher branches of edu- 
cation, or some of them, for the space of four months or upwards of the 
year ending on the date of such report. 

5. All students belonging to any academy, and claimed by it to be classi- 
cal scholars, or scholars in the higher branches of English education, or 
both, shall be exercised, at convenient and ordinary intervals, in composition 
and declamation in the English language. 



The Regents of the University being desirous to consolidate into one the 
various ordinances heretofore adopted by them, prescribing the requisites 
and forms of the annual reports of academies, do further ordain and declare 
as follows : 

Every academy subject to the visitation of the Regents of the University, 
and claiming a distributive share of the income of the Literature fund, shall 
annually, on or before the first day of February, make and transmit to the 
Regents, (so that the same be received by their secretary on or before that 
day,) a report in writing, exhibiting a full view of its state and condition, at 
the time referred to in its report, in respect to the following particulars, viz : 
Value of its academy lot and building : 
Value of its other real estate: 
Value of its library and philosophical apparatus : 
Value of its other personal estate : 

Its tuition money received or accrued, for the year ending on the date of 
the report : 

Interest or income of its permanent funds, received or accrued during said 
year : 

Ainount of its debts remaining unpaid : 

Amount of money received by it from the Regents of the University since 
its last annual report, and how the same has been expended : 

Number and names of its teachers, and the annual salary or compensation 
allowed to each : 

Whole number of students, including classical and all others, belonging 
to the academy on the date of its report : 

Number of students belonging to the academy on the date of its report, or 
who belonged to it during part of the year ending on the date of its report, 
and Avho are claimed by the trustees to have pursued for four months of said 
year, or upwards, classical studies, or the higher branches of English edu- 
cation, or both, according to the true intent and meaning of the foregoing 
ordinance. 

The said report shall also contain, or have appended or annexed to it, a 
true catalogue or list of all the students belonging to the academy at the date 
of its report, or during part of the year ending on the date of its report, who 
are claimed by its trustees to be such classical scholars, or such scholars in 
the higher branches of English education, or both, and to have pursued their 
studies for such length of time as to entitle them (or the academy to which 
they belong) to a distributive share of the income of the Literature fund, ac- 
cording to the true intent and meaning of the foregoing ordinance of the Re- 
gents ; in which said catalogue or list shall be inserted the name and age of 
each student- claimed to be such scholar as aforesaid, together with a specifi- 
cation of the different studies pursued by such student, and the length of time 
the same were pursued in each quarter or term of the year ending on the 
date of said report, by recitations of ordinary frequency and in the ordinary 
way, designating said studies by the ordinary name or title of the book or 
treatise on the subject so studied, and designating also the part or portion of 
the book or treatise so studied ; and the said catalogue or list shall also con- 
tain a declaration or certificate, that all the students therein named, and claim- 
ed to be scholars in the higher branches of English education, had been 
found, on due examination, to have pursued all the studies, and acquired all 
the knowledge, required by the foregoing ordinance, as preliminary requi- 
sites to their becoming such scholars ; and that the ordinance of the Regents, 



in respect to exercises in composition and declamation, had been complied 
with. 

Every academy supplied by the Regents with a thermometer and rain- 
gage, shall, together a\ ith its annual report, make and transmit to the Re- 
gents a return or table (of the form heretofore prescribed) of the meteorolo- 
gical observations made with such thermometer and rain-gage during the 
year ending on the date of said report. 

Every such report shall be made with reference (as near as may be) to 
the close of the year to which it relates ; and the same shall be verified by 
the oath of the principal, or one of the trustees of the academy. 

The secretary shall prepare and distribute to the several academies subject 
to the visitation of the Regents, suitable forms for the annual reports required 
by this ordinance to be made by said academies, together with a copy of this 
ordinance, and such instructions for filling up the blanks in said forms as 
shall be considered ne(;essary or proper. 



The following resolution was adopted hy the Regents of the University on 
the 26th February, 1834. 

Resolved, That no students belonging to any academy shall hereafter be 
considered classical scholars, or scholars in the higher branches of English 
education, or both, so as to entitle the academy to which they belong to any 
share of the income of the Literature fund, on their account, unless such 
students be of the age of ten years or upwards, at the time of making out 
the report in which they are claimed to be classical scholars, &c. 



The following ordinance, made necessary by the recent act of the Legis- 
lature referred to in the introduction to these instructions, was passed by the 
Regents on the 25th day of April, 1838. It is the most important ordi- 
nance now in force on the subject of academic reports, particularly in re- 
ference to the part of them required to be made by the trustees ; it should 
be well understood by all who undertake to prepare such reports : 

AN ORDINANCE 
Relating to the requisites and forms of Academic Reports, and prescrib- 
ing the conditio7is on which academies may be incorporated by the Re- 
gents of the University. 

Passed April 25, 1838. 

Whereas, by an act of the Legislature of the State of New- York enti- 
tled " An act to appropriate the income of the United States deposite fund to 
the purposes of education and the diffusion of knowledge," passed April 
17, 1838, it is among other things provided, that the sum of twenty-eight 
thousand dollars of the moneys therein mentioned shall be annually paid over, 
on and after the first day of January next, to the Literature fund, which, to- 
gether with the sum of twelve thousand dollars of the present Literature fund, 
shall be annually distributed among the academies in the several senatorial dis- 
tricts by the Regents of the University, in the manner now provided by law. 
But that no academy shall hereafter be allowed to participate in the annual 



distribution of the Literature fund, until the Regents of the University shall 
be satisfied that a proper building has been erected and finished to furnish 
suitable and necessary accommodation for such school, and that such acade- 
my is furnished with a suitable library and philosophical apparatus, and that 
a proper preceptor has been and is employed for the instruction of the pu- 
pils at such academy: And further, that the Regents shall, on being satisfi- 
ed that such building, library and apparatus are sufficient for the purposes 
intended, and that the whole is of the value at least of twenty-five hundred 
dollars, permit such academy or school to place itself under the visitation 
of the Regents, and thereafter to share in the distribution of the moneys 
adove mentioned, or any other of the Literature fund, in the manner now 
provided by law : 

And tohereas, for the better information of the academies which do, or 
may, claim the benefits of the said act, it is proper for the Regents to declare, 
in the form of a public ordinance, what will be necessary to satisfy them 
that the buildings, library and apparatus of such academies are of the de- 
scription and value required by said act to entitle them to distributive shares 
of the moneys therein directed to be distributed. 

Be it therefore ordained by the Regents of the University of the State 
of New-York, that every academy, already subject to their visitation, and 
claiming a distributive share of said moneys, shall in its next anmual report, 
and every other academy or academic institution, not already subject to such 
visitation, but which shall hereafter make application to become subject 
thereto, shall in ks first application made for that purpose, set forth with all 
practicable precision, and in such form as shall be prescribed by the Re- 
gents, a particular statement showing, 

1st. The extent, general description, title, and value of the ground on 
which their academy edifice shall be erected, or which shall be used for its 
accommodation at the time of making such report or application. 

2. The dimensions, general description, and value of the buildings erected 
on such ground for the use or accommodation of such academy, at the time 
last aforesaid. 

3d. An inventory, or catalogue of all the books and articles of philoso- 
phical or other apparatus belonging to such academy, with a just and fair 
estimate of their value, at the time last above referred to. 

4th. A particular statement of all incumbrances on such academic pro- 
perty, or on any part thereof, at the time last above mentioned — it being the 
intention of the Regents to require every academy subject to their visi- 
sitation, to own and possess such property to the value of at least two thou- 
sand five hundred dollars over and above all incumbrances thereon, as a 
condition on which such academy will be allovved to receive a distributive 
share of the moneys belonging to the literature fund. 

And to the end that the Regents may be the better enabled to ascertain the 
true value of such academic grounds, buildings and apparatus, at the time of 
making such report or application, the said statement shall also set forth and 
show, when and how the title to such ground, library and apparatus was first 
acquired, and ifacquiredbypurchase,whattheoriginalor first cost thereof was; 
also, when such buildings were erected, enlarged, or otherwise improved, of 
what materials they are constructed, with the original or first cost of such 
buildings and improvements ; also, the state and condition of all such aca- 
demic property, at the time of making such report or application, in respect 
to its repair or fitness for use ; and if the same be not in good repair, where- 
in, and how long it has been out of repair, and the probable cost of putting 

2 



10 

it in good repair, together with all such other matters as may be found to 
influence in any respect the value of such property. That it shall be the duty 
of the trustees of every such academy, previous to making their first re- 
port or application required by this ordinance, to submit the evidences of their 
title to the ground occupied for their academic buildings, to some person of 
the degree of counsellor at law in the supreme court, for his examination, 
and to obtain from him a certificate in writing, stating his examination of 
the evidences of title submitted to him with his opinion as to the nature and 
validity of such title, and stating, also, that he has caused the ordinary 
searches to be made for incumbrances on such property, with the result of 
such searches; which said certificate shall be transmitted by the said trus- 
tees, together with their said first report or application, to the said Regents. 

^ 2. And be it further ordained, that the trustees of every such academy 
in every subsequent report to be made by them to the Regents, after the said 
first r-eportor application, required by this ordinance, shall either make and 
transmit a full statement of all tlie academic property then belonging to 
them in the manner required by the first section of this ordinance, or in lieu 
thereof, state whether such property remains in all respects the same as at 
the time of making any previous statement thereof, to be particularly refer- 
red to by them, or whether the same has been increased or diminished in 
quantity', enhanced or depreciated in value, and to what extent, or has in any 
other and what respect, undergone any and what change, since the time of 
makino" such previous statement — showing in all cases the true value of such 
property at the time of making such subsequent report as aforesaid ; and it 
is hereby made the duty of the trustees of every such academy, at sometime 
during the year ending on the date of every such report, to cause all the 
books and articles of apparatus then actually possessed by them, to be com- 
pared with tlvs-original catalogues or inventories thereof, (to be always pre- 
served for that purpose) to ascertain whether any of their books or articles 
of apparatus shall have been lost, destroyed or damaged beyond the ordinary 
wear and tear thereof from necessary use, and to state in every such report 
whether such duty has been discharged, and whether any, and if any, what 
part of their books and apparatus shall on such comparison be found to have 
been lost, destroyed or damaged as aforesaid, and through whose act, omis- 
sion or neglect such loss or damage shall have happened. 

^ 3. The Regents being required, by the act of the Legislature above re- 
ferred to, to determine " Whether a proper preceptor has been and is em- 
ployed for the insiruclion of the pupils at every academy'^ claiming a dis- 
tributive share of the moneys mentioned in said act: Be it therefore, (in or- 
der to enable the Regents to discharge said duty) further ordained, that the 
trustees of every academy, subject to the provisions of this ordinance, shall 
in their first, as well as in every other future report to be made by them, 
state the name of every preceptor employed by them in their academy, for 
the year or any part of the year, ending on the date of such report — the age 
of such preceptor, the time he has been engaged in the business of teaching, 
the general course of study pursued by him preparatory to his becoming a 
teacher, and whether he pursues the business of teaching as a permanent 
profession, or only as a temporary occupation. 

^ 4. And be it further ordained, that all reports or applications to the Re- 
gents, with all statements made in pursuance of this ordinance, and all future 
reports from any academies required to be made by the ordinance of the Re- 
gents of the 18th of March, 1828, as well as all other communications pur- 
porting to proceed from any academy, or from its trustees, as a corporate 



II 

body, shall be submitted to the trustees of such academy at some stated or 
special meeting, legally held, at which a legal quorum shall be present ; 
and the same shall not be considered as a valid act or proceeding of such 
academy, until it be approved and adopted as such at such meeting, and be 
so declared to be in its concluding or some other convenient part thereof. 
And when the same shall be so approved and adopted, and so declared to be, 
it shall, in order to secure satisfactory evidence thereof, be verified by the 
oath or affirmation of the president or other trustee who shall preside at such 
meeting, to be taken before some person authorized by law to administer 
oaths. 

^ 5. It being provided by the act of the Legislature before referred to, 
that the Regents of the University may, in their discretion, admit to a parti- 
cipation in the distribution of the said public moneys, any incorporated school, 
or school founded and governed by any literary corporation other than theo- 
logical or medical, in which the usual academic studies are pursued, and 
vvhich shall have been in like manner subjected to their visitation, and would 
in all other respects, were it incorporated as an academy, be entitled to such 
distribution; it is therefore further ordained and declared, that all incorpo- 
rated schools, or schools founded by literary corporations, which shall claim 
the benefit of the provision above referred to, be required, in their applica- 
tion for such beneiit, to set forth and show the particular grounds on which 
their claim thereto is founded, together with a general statement of their 
condition as to accommodations for instruction, course of studies pursued, 
and funds possessed by them ; and that they also be required to make and 
transmit, with every such application to the Regents, the same report in re- 
spect to the names, ages and studies, of the students claimed by them to 
be classical students, or students in the higher branches of English educa- 
tion, or both, as academies subject to the visitation of the Regents are now, 
or shall hereafter be, required to make, in relation to the same subject mat- 
ters. 

§ 6. And whereas the Legislature, by providing in their act above refer- 
red to, that any academy may subject itself to the visitation of the Regents, 
and become entitled to participate in the distribution of the public money, on 
its showing to the satisfaction of the Regents, that it is possessed of suitable 
academic grounds, buildings, library, and apparatus of the value of $2,500, 
have thereby established a rule, or prescribed a condition, for the admission 
of academies to the enjoyment of the public bounty, difierent from that here- 
tofore established or prescribed by the Regents ; 

And whereas the conditions on which academies may be incorporated, so 
as to become entitled to distributive shares of the public money, ought in the 
judgment of the Regents to be the same, whether the application for such 
incorporation be made to them or to the Legislature : 

Be it therefore further ordained, that all ordinances heretofore adopted by 
the Regents, on the subject of the incorporation of academies, be so modified 
in respect to the kind and value of property required to be possessed by the 
applicants for such incorporation, as to conform in that respect to the require- 
ments of the statute above referred to. 

The secretary having represented to the Regents, that the last edition of 
their instructions to academies on the subject of their academic reports is or 
will soon be exhausted, and a new and larger edition being required for dis- 
tribution among the several academies interested in the provisions of this or- 
dinance, it is therefore ordered, that a new edition of said instructions be 
prepared by the secretary, for the use of academies, in which shall be insert- 



12 

ed a copy of the foregoing ordinance, and copies of all other ordinances re- 
lative to academic reports, with such additional instructions in respect to the 
form of such reports, as the new or additional ordinances on the subject shall 
require; and that five hundred copies of such instructions be printed for the 
use of the Regents, one or more of which copies shall be sent to every aca- 
demy subject to their visitation, or which shall make application to become 
subject thereto. 

The academic reports required by the preceding ordinance of the Regents, 
and the laws of the state on which they are founded, must be made and 
transmitted to the secretary of the University, on or before the iirst day of 
February, in each year. Before making them, both the lavv-s and ordinances 
above referred to should be attentively read and well understood. There 
will then be no difficulty in filling up the blanks in the following form of a 
report, which, having been prepared with much care, will, it is hoped, be a 
safe guide. 

FORM FOR ACADEMIC REPORTS. 

To the Regents of the U/iiversiti/ of the State of Neiv-YorJc. 

The Trustees of Academy, established at 

in the county of Respectfully Report : That the condition of 

their academy on the day of A. D. [here state the 

day on which the quarter ended nearest to the first of January] in respect to 
the several subject matters required to be reported on by them Avas as fol- 
lows : 

[If the report be from an academy incorporated by the Legislature, and 
not already subject to the visitation of the Regents, but desirous to be- 
come so, the introductory part of the report should be as follows, viz. The 
Trustees of Academy, established at, &c. respectfully represent, 

that they were incorporated by an act of the Legislature, on the 
day of A. D. ; that they are desirous to become subject to the visi- 

tation of the Regents of the University, to enable them to participate in the 
distribution of the moneys belonging to the Literature fund, pursuant to the 
statute in such case made and provi:led ; and to that end they hereby subject 
their said academy to the visitation of the said Regents, to the same extent 
and in the same manner as if they had been originally incorporated by them; 
and the said trustees herewith sumbit the following statement of the condi- 
tion of their institution on the date of this application, in respect to the seve- 
ral subject matters required to be embraced in it.]* 

N. B. The first seven heads or sections m the following form are intend- 
ed only for the first report or application — the next two (8th and 9th) are 
intended for \.\\q first two heads in a!l reports subsequent to the first one; and 
the remaining heads are intended as well for the first as for all subsequent 
reports. 

Ground for Academy Buildings. 
The lot of ground on which the buildings of said academy stand, or which 

* N. B. Applicants for an original act of incorporation from the Regent.s, will find a form 
for their application in a subsequent part of these instructions. 



13 

is used for their accommodation, consists of [here state the quantity, eitherjn 
acres or parts of acres, or by the number of feet in breadth and depth.] The 
lot of ground was purchased in the year , for $ ; or it was given 

to the academy in the year [as che case may be.] There were then no 

improvements on it, or if there were any, describe them ; state the title to the 
ground, whether in perpetuity or for a term of years, and if it be subject to 
a ground rent, state amount, &c. Give a general description of all improve- 
ments (except buildings) made on it since it came to the possession of the 
trustees. After giving all such and similar data on which estimates of va- 
lue depend, state the present value of the ground, including fences, ornamen- 
tal trees, and all other improvements except buildings. 

Academy Buildings, 
The buildings erected on the ground above described, and used for the ac- 
commodation of the academy, consist of (here describe the principal build- 
ings, with their dimensions; state v/hen and of what materials they were 
originally built, or have been since enlarged or improved ; give a general 
description of their internal divisions, style of work, fitness or convenience 
for use, &c. with a statement of the original or first cost of the buildings, 
and of all additions or improvements thereto, so far as the same can be as- 
certained. Then state their present condition as to their being in or out of 
repair, and if out of repair, what will be the probable cost of putting them 
in good repair. After giving all such and similar data on w^hich estimates 
of value depend, state the present actual value of such buildings. 

Academy Library. 

The following is a catalogue of all the books belonging to said academy 
at the date of this report, with the original or first cost (so far as it can be 
ascertained) and the present value of each book (proceed with the catalogue 
in the following form.) 



Title or name of books arranged according to 
catalogue, if any, in use. 



(Give the total of each column.) 



Number of vo- 
lumes. 



Original cost. 



Present value. 



Give a general description of the condition of the books in the library in 
respect to their being new or old. in good order or worn out, &c. 

Philosophical Apparatus. 
The following is an inventory of all the articles of philosophical or other 
apparatus, belonging to said academy at the date of this report, with the 
original or first cost, (so far as can be ascertained) and the present value of 
each article, (here proceed with the inventory, including in it, besides what 
is strictly or technically philosophical apparatus, all mathematical instru- 
ments, as well as all other instruments used in or illustrative of any of the 
arts or sciences.) 



14 



Description or name of each article. 




State the totals, and give a general desciiption of the condition of the ap- 
paratus in respect to its being new or old, in good order or worn out, &c. 

If the academy possess any mineralogical or botanical specimens, anato- 
mical preparations, or any thing else illustrative of science or art, and not 
included as part of the library or apparatus already described, a general do' 
scription of them should here be given, so as to convey a general idea of 
their extent, variety, character, &c. 

Title to Property, Incumbrances, Sfc. 
The evidences of title in the said academy to the property described in 
the preceding sections of this report, have been submitted to of, &c. 

who is a counsellor at law in the supreme court, whose certificate in writ- 
ino-, as to the nature and validity of said title, accompanies this report. The 
said property is free from all incumbrances, (if such be the case) or if there 
be any incumbrances on it state the general amount of them, and refer to 
certificate of said counsel for particulars, &c. 

Other Academic Property. 

The property of the academy, other than the academy lot, buildings, li- 
brary and apparatus above described, consists of, (here describe the property 
in the most general terms such as the following :) 

Bonds and mortgages, considered good, $ 

A house & lot at, &c. worth, 

100 acres of wild land in, &c. worth, 

Total, 

Summary Statements. 
The total value of all the academic property above described, is as fol- 
lows : 

Value of lot for academy buildings, $ 

Value of buildings thereon, 

Value of library, 

Value of philosophical apparatus, 

Total value of lot, buildings, library and apparatus, $ 

Deduct for incumbrances, if any, thereon, 

Balance of value over and above all incumbrances, 

Add for other academic property, 

Total value of the whole, $ 

N. B. The preceding heads or sections of the form for academic reports, 
being calculated only for the first report to be hereafter made, the form for 



15 

all subsequent reports, in respect to the several subject matters embraced in 
the said preceding sections, may be as follows: 

Academic Property. 

For a particular statement of their academic lot, buildings, library, and 
apparatus, and for a general statement of their other property, the trustees 
refer to their first report or application to the Regents, made pursuant to 
their ordinance of the 25th of April, 1838, said report or application bearing 
date on or about the day of &c. 

The property described in the report or application above referred to, re- 
mains, in respect to quantity, value, incumbrances, and in all other respects 
the same as at the date of that report [or if any change has taken place, by, 
the purchase of new property, or by improving the old, or in consequence of 
decline in value, from decay or any other cause, or if the incumbrances 
on it have been increased or diminished, state the fact according as it is.] 
But in all cases, whether any change has or has not taken place, state the 
value of all the academic property at the time of making every future report, 
in the following summary form. 

Present value of academj^ lot and buildings, $ 

Present value of philosophical apparatus, 

Present value of library, consisting of volumes, (be care- 
ful to fill the blank with the number of volumes,) 

Total value, $ 

Deduct for incumbrances, if any, < 

Balance, showing value over and above incumbrances, $ 

Add for other property, valued at 

Total value of the whole, $ 

Books and Apparatus, compared tvith Catalogues, 6fc. 
All the books and articles of apparatus possessed by the academy have, dur- 
ing the year ending on the date of this report, been, by or under the direction 
of the trustees, carefully examined and compared with the original catalogues 
or inventories of the books and apparatus belonging to the academy. And on 
such examination and comparison, all the books and apparatus belongino-to 
the academy, and which ought to be in its possession, were duly found to be 
in such possession, in good order and condition [or if any books or articles 
of apparatus be lost, missing, or damaged beyond what m.'ght reasonably be 
expected from ordinary wear and tear in their necessary use, so state the 
fact, specifying the particular books and articles of apparatus so lost or da- 
maged, and stating also the name of the librarian or other person through 
whose act, omission or neglect, such loss or damage shall have happened.] 

Debts. 
The debts contracted by the academy which remained unpaid on the said 
day of &c. including all arrears of interest (if any) and 

all outstanding or unpaid accounts acknowledged as debts, amounted on that 
day to $ 



16 

Annual Revenue. 

Amount received or receivable for tuition in said academy dur- 
ing the year ending on tlie said day of &c. • • • • $ 

Amount received or receivable for interest or income of acade- 
mic property, accrued during said year, 

Amount received during said year from the Regents of the Uni- 
versity, on their annual apportionment of the income of the 
Literature fund, 

Total annual revenue. $ 

N. B. The items above described should include only what accrued dur- 
ing the particular year above referred to. Any thing received in that year, 
for arrears accrued in former years, should not be included — the object of 
the statement being to show the true amount of revenue accrued (whether 
paid or unpaid) for the particular year to which it refers, in order to enable 
the Regents to compare annual revenue with annual expenditures. 

Annual Expenditures. 

Amount paid or payable by the academy, for salaries or com- 
pensation of teachers, for the year ending on the said 
day of &c. $ 

Amount paid or payable for interest (if any) accrued during 
said year, on debts outstanding against the academy, 

Amount paid or payable for repairs of buildings or other pro- 
perty belonging to the academy, made during said year, • • • • 

Amount paid or payable for fuel, and for all other incidental 
expenses, incurred by the academy during said year, * 

Total annual expenditure, $ 

N. B. The items above described should include only what was paid or 
payable on liabilities incurred by the academy for the particular year men- 
tioned in the statement. Any thing paid in that year, on account of liabili- 
ties contracted or incurred in former years, should not be included — the ob- 
ject of the statement being to show the true amount of expenditures or lia- 
lities for expenditures incurred (whether actually paid or not) during the 
particular year to which it relates, in order to enable us to compare annual 
expenditures with annual revenue, to see if the academy be falling in debt, 
or otherwise. 

If any of the items of income or expenditure for any particular year, hap- 
pen to be either greater or less than the average for common years, the case 
should be stated according to the fact. 

Money received from Literature FuJid. 

The moneys received from the Literatui'e fund for the last year, as stated 
in the preceding part of this report, under the head of revenue, together with 
all balances (if any) of such moneys received in former years and sufiered 
to remain on hand unexpended, have been expended during the last year, or 
are accounted for as follows. (Here state the fact as it is, always remem- 
bering, before any expenditure be made, that all such moneys are required 
by law to be expended or applied in paying the salaries or compensation of 
teachers.) 

If the academy, since its last previous report, shall have received from 
the Regents of the University, any money for the purchase of books or ap- 



17 

paratus, on its raising a similar amount for the like purpose, pursuant to 
the act of the Legislature of the 22d April, 1834, the amount of money so 
received, together with the amount so raised, should, under this head of the 
report, be particularly accounted for by stating in detail the several books 
or articles of apparatus purchased with it, and the price paid for each. 

Departmc7its. 
The departments of instruction established and in practical operation in 
the academy, are (here describe the different departments, if there be more 
than one, by reference to the subjects of instruction in each, or to the sex of 
the scholars, attending it; and in all cases state whether male and female 
scholars are in the same or in different departments.) 

Teachers. 

The whole number of teachers employed in said academy on the said 
day of, &c. was 

The names, ages, qualifications and compensation of said teachers were 
as follows : (Here state the name of each teacher — the department in which 
he teaches — his age — how long he has followed the business of te?.ching — 
a general statement of the course of study pursued preparatory to becoming 
a teacher in said academy — if the teacher be a graduate of any college, the 
statement of that fact alone will be sufficient — if not such a graduate, specify 
in general terms the subjects studied by him, or compare them with the sub- 
graduate course of study pursued in any of our common colleges, and state 
what part or proportion of such a course they would form — or if they are 
equal to or exceed that course, so state the fact, either in reference to the 
time such teacher was first employed in the academy, or to the time of mak- 
ing its report — and in all cases state whether such teacher intends, or pro- 
fesses an intention, to make teaching a permanent profession, or only a tem- 
porary occupation — state also the annual salary or compensation allowed to 
each teacher.) 

Subjects of study pursued, and class or text books used. 

The subjects of study pursued in said academy, during said year, includ- 
ing classical and all others, with the class or text books used on each sub- 
ject of study, were as follows : 

(Here state all the subjects of study of every description, from the lowest 
to the highest, arranged in one column alphabetically; and in a collateral 
column state, opposite to each subject of study, the class or text books, used 
in studying it, as well in the lowest as in the highest departments ; desig- 
nating each book by its ordinary title and name of author. ) 

Composition and Declamation. 
The students in said academy, required to be exercised in compo- 
sition and declamation were exercised therein, during said year, 
as often, on an average, as once in days, as appears 
from the affidavit of the principal of said academy annexed to 
this report, 

Number of Students. 
The whole number of students (including classical and all others,) 
belonging to the academy on the said day of was • • . • 

The number of students belonging to the said academy on the said 



1» 

day of or who belonged to it during part 

of the year ending on that day, and who are daimed by the trus- 
tees to have pursued, for four months of said year, or upwards, 
classical studies, or the higher branches of English education, or 
both, according to the true intent and meaning of the ordinance 

of the Regents of the 18th of March, 1828, was 

A schedule of the names, ages and studies of the said students, so claimed 
by the said trustees to have pursued classical studies, or the higher branches 
of English education, or both, is hereunto annexed, duly verified by oath, 
as required by the law of the State and the ordinance of the Regents. 

Prices or Rates of Tuition. 
The prices charged for tuition in said academy during said year, were as 
follows : (Here state the different prices in reference to the different subjects 
taught, &c.) 

Gratuitous Instriiction. 

If (as is known to be the case in some academies) scholars be received from 
common schools, and gratuitously instructed, either as a reward of merit or 
otherwise, state under this head the number so received, with the grounds 
or principles on which they are received, &c. So if any scholars be received 
and instructed in the academy for services rendered by them, or on credit, 
to be paid for out of future earnings, &c. that fact may also be here stated. 

Academic Terms, Vacations, <Sj-c. 

The year is divided for this academy into terms, (here state the 

number of terms, the length of each, the number of vacations, and length 
of each, with the number of public examinations in the academy during the 
year, and how long each examination ordinarily continues.) 

Price of Board. 
The average price of board in the vicinity of the academy, for scholars 
attending it from abroad, should be stated under this head, and if the prin- 
cipal or any of the teachers of the academy receive scholars into their pri- 
vate families, the terms may, if desired, be here stated. 

Conclusion and Authentic a tio7i of Report. 
The preceding report from academy was submitted to the trus- 

tees of said academy at a meeting legally held by them on the day of, 

&c. at which meeting the following named trustees were present (state 
names) and having been read and approved, it ^vas duly adopted at said 
meeting as the report of said academy, and ordered (after being verified by 
the oath of the presiding officer at said meeting and recorded on the minutes 
of its proceedings*) to be transmitted to the Regents of the University pur- 
suant to the provisions of their ordinance in such case made and provided. 
All which is hereby, or herewith, done in obedience to said order this 
day of, &c. 

A. B. President, or President pro tetn. 

* {as ike case may be.) 

of Academy. 

* It \K proper to have the tru.stees' part of every report entered on their minutes — as it is an 
import.^nt part of their proceedings, and a record or copy of it will ho required for reference in 
making future reports; tsut the leacliers' part of the report it is not necessary to have entered 
on tho minutes, as that is no part of the proceedings of the trustees as a corporate body, and 
will not prol/p.bly bo required for future reference. 



19 

Affidavit above referred to. 

County of . ss. — A. B. being duly sworn or iaffirmed (as the cai^ts 

may be) deposelh and saith, that he is one of the trustees of academy, 

(whose annual report to the Regents of the University immediately pre- 
cedes this affidavit) that he officiated as the presiding officer at the meeting 
of the trustees of said academy referred to in the concluding part of said re- 
port — that he is acquainted with the contents of said report — that said report 
is made in the form required by the latest instructions received from the Re- 
gents of the University, and that the statement of facts therein set forth is in 
all respects true according to the best of his knowledge, information and 
belief 

A. B. 
Sworn before me this day of, &c. 

The trustees' part of the report ends with the affidavit, the form for which 
is above given. The teachers' part makes up the residue of the report. It 
consists of a statement or schedule of the names, ages and studies of the 
students claimed by the trustees, in their part of the report, to be classical 
students, or students in the higher branches of English education, or both. 
The two parts of the report, although they relate to very different subject 
matters, are so connected by mutual references to each other, that they must 
be annexed together, before the affidavit to either can be sworn to — as the 
fact of such annexation is part of the matter stated in each affidavit. This 
caution would not have been given but for the circumstance that cases have 
have often occurred where the two parts of the report have been sworn to, 
without being annexed, or in any manner connected together, and in a kw 
cases they have been actually forwarded to the Regents, at different times, 
thereby literally, but no doubt unintentionally, falsifying the reference in 
both. 

The statement, or schedule, above referred to, should be prepared and 
sworn to by the principal of the academy; but in case of his death or ab- 
sence, it should be made and sworn to by some other teacher, if there be any, 
acquainted with the facts to be stated; or if there be no such other teacher, 
it must be made and sworn to by some one of the trustees — stating the rea- 
son of his making it, the sources of his knowledge or information, with his 
belief as to its correctness, &c. The following form for the schedule is sub- 
stantially the same as that contained in the edition of instructions published 
in 1836 ; no occasion for any alteration having occurred since that time. 



20 



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21 

At the close of the schedule, an affidavit should be added, in the following 
form: 

County of ss. — A. B. being duly SAVorn, deposeth and saith, 

that he is principal instructor of academy, whose annual report 

to the Regents of the University is hereunto annexed ; that the said report 
is made in conformity to the latest instructions received from the Regents of 
the University ; that the annexed (or preceding) schedule contams a true state- 
ment of the names, ages and studies of the several students belonging to said 
academy on the day of , or who belonged to it during 

part of the year ending on that day, and who are claimed to have pursued, 
for four months of said year or upwards, classical studies, or the higher 
branches of English education, or both, according to the true intent and 
meaning of the ordinance of the Regents of the 18th March, 1828; that 
none of said students are under the age of ten years, and that such of them 
as are claimed to be classical students, have actually pursued all the pre- 
liminary studies required by the first section of said ordinance, to make 
them such students ; and that such of them as are claimed to be students in 
the higher branches of English education, had, before they were considered 
as such students, attained such proficiency in the arts of reading and writ- 
ing, and obtained such elementary or preliminary knowledge, as is required 
by the second section of said ordinance to make them such students ; that they 
have all pursued the requisite studies, and performed the requisite exercises 
in composition and declamation (except that females have not been exercised 
in declamation) for the period of time required by said ordinance to entitle 
said academy to a distributive share of the income of the Literature fund ; 
the said exercises in composition and declamation having been as often, on 
an average, as once in days. All which this deponent affirms to be 

true, according to the best of his knowledge, information and belief 

A. B. Principal, <^c. 

Sworn, &c. 

In prescribing a form for academic reports, it is proper to reserve a place 
for such suggestions or remarks as the trustees or teachers of academies have 
to submit, either on their own account, or in answer to the inquiries made in 
a subsequent part of these instructions. Such a place may accordingly be 
here reserved under the general head of remarks, for all statements or sug- 
gestions not required to be verified by affidavit. * 

From the form for academic reports, which occupies so much of the pre- 
ceding part of these instructions, it will be seen that several matters are now 
for the first time made subjects for report ; and that much of what was before 
included in the report in some form, is now required to be reported on in a 
new and more elaborate form. The new requisitions thus made on acade- 
mies relate almost wholly to the trustees, or to their part of the academic 
report ; the teachers' part remaining substantially the same as heretofore. 
They are for the most part duties required by, or incidental to, the recent act 
of the Legislature relating to the future distribution of the United States de- 
posite fund. That act having introduced an entire new principle of distri- 
bution, that of requiring every academy subject to the visitation of the Re- 



22 

gents, to shew property invested in suitable academic buildings, library and 
apparatus, to the value of at least $2,500, as the only condition on which it 
can hereafter be permitted to enjoy any share of the public money: and the 
Regents of the University being required by the same act to judge of the 
suitableness and value of such property, which they can only do from writ- 
ten evidence, to be furnished by the trustees themselves, it therefore became 
necessary to be somewhat rigorous in prescribing the kind and character of 
the evidence to be produced. This consideration alone will justify the Re- 
gents for most of the new duties required from trustees. And if there be 
any thing required beyond what such a consideration would strictly warrant, 
it must rest on the authority of the Regents as the legal visiters of academies, 
that authority being of itself sufficient to authorize at least every thing re- 
quired in the reports beyond what is required by the law. 

The above remarks have been made in the hope of satisfying the trustees 
of academies that the new duties required of them are not unreasonable or 
unnecessary, and in the further hope that in consideration of the great bene- 
fits they are to derive from the Literature fund, and the important statistical 
information they will impart to each other by making their reports accord- 
ing to the new and more enlarged forms now prescribed for them, they will 
cheerfully comply with those forms without complaining of the great labor 
it may subject them to. 

The form for the trustees' part of the report given in the preceding pages 
of these instructions is so full, and the directions for filling it up interspersed 
through it are so minute, that no further instructions will probably be re- 
quired to enable them to prepare it. It is, however, proper in this place to 
call the attention of the trustees to a subject which, not being particularly 
referred to in the form of their reports, may escape their notice. It is that 
provision, in the recent act of the Legislature so often before referred to, 
which requires academies lo have suitable libraries and apparatus, as well 
as suitable buildings, to entitle them to a share of the public money. 

Suitable Library and Apparatus. 

By the act of the Legislature above referred to, academies are required to 
have suitable libraries and apparatus, and the Regents are required to judge 
of their suitableness, as well as value. What the Regents will consider a 
suitable library and apparatus, is not yet determined by them; whether they 
will look only to quantity and A'alue, or inquire into quality, remains to be 
hereafter determined by them, when they shall have full evidence before 
them of the actual condition of academies in respect to their buildings, libra- 
ry, apparatus, &c. It is, however, reasonable to presume, that they will 
require every academy to have some kind of a library and apparatus ; so 
that whatever be the value of the buildings which any academy my possess, 



23 

if it have no library and apparatus it will not satisfy the conditions prescrib- 
ed by law for the future distribution of the public money. In all such cases 
it will be necessary for the trustees to provide a library and apparatus of 
some kind before making their first report, although the value of their aca- 
demic buildings may exceed $2,500. 

Teachers' part of Report. 

The teachers' part of the report relates to subject matters of such a nature, 
as not to admit of the necessary instructions being embodied in the form pre- 
scribed for it ; it therefore becomes necessary to give such instructions sepa- 
rately from such form. 

The extracts from the Revised Statutes and the ordinance of the Regents 
of the 18th March, 1828, herewith published, should be attentively read 
by every teacher before he undertakes to make out his schedule of students, 
studies, &c. He will there find the following leading requirements ; 

Names and Ages of Students. 
The names and ages of all the students included in the schedule must be par- 
ticularly stated. The statute above referred to, if construed in its most rio-id 
sense, would require the names and ages, as well as the studies, of all the 
students in the academy to be stated in the report; but the Regents consider 
the reasonable intent and spirit of the act to be satisfied, if the report state 
the names, ages and studies of the students claimed to be classical, or in the 
higher branches of English education. Where there is any omission of 
name, it is of course considered as a blank in the schedule ; and where age is 
omitted, it is presumed to be less than ten years, and consequently the claim 
of such a student to a place in the schedule is rejected. The form of the teach- 
er's affidavit expressly requires the names and ages of all students claimed 
to be classical, &c. to be stated. But notwithstanding that circumstance, it 
often happens that the ages of students are omitted, and the affidavit of the 
teacher is thereby falsified, not wilfully, but carelessly. 

Studies pursued, Sfc. 
Both the law of the State and the ordinance of the Regents require the 
different studies of each pupil, during each term or quarter of the year, to 
be stated in the report, together with the progress made in each study, as 
measured by the quantity or portion of each book studied. Such a require- 
ment imposes a very laborious and troublesome duty en teachers; but as it 
is a requirement made by law, it cannot be dispensed with ; nor would the 
Regents probably dispense with it, if they had the power, as no other re- 
quiren^ent of equal efficacy could be substituted in its place — the subjects of 
study pursued, and the progress made in them, being the only practical data 



24 

on which the Regents can safely rely in making their distribution of the pub- 
lic money. 

The deficiencies most commonly occurring in the teachers' report on the 
studies pursued, &c. relate either to the insufficient extent of the studies, or 
to insufficient description of them. 

Insufficient Studies. 

In respect to classical studies, the statute above referred to provides, that 
no student shall be deemed to have pursued classical studies, unless he shall 
have advanced at least so far as to have read in Latin, the first book of the 
iEneid. What particular studies are to make up the intermediate stages of 
the advance, or Avhat in other words shall precede Virgil, not being speci- 
fied in the statute, it became necessary for the Regents to specify it, which 
they accordingly did by their ordinance of 1828, in which it was expressly 
declared that no students in any academy should be considered classical scho- 
lars, until they should have studied so much of the common elementary 
prose authors in Latin, as is equal to one-half of Corderius, one-half of His- 
toria Sacra, one-third of Viri Roma?, and two books of Caesar's Commenta- 
ries, and should also have read the first book of the ^neid. The quantum 
of Latin study required to precede Virgil being thus expressly defined, in 
terms of the plainest possible import, it was not expected to be misappre- 
hended or overlooked. Yet it has heretofore often been, and sometimes still 
is a subject of the most unaccountable misapprehension or neglect. Students 
passing directly from grammar, or other like elementary studies, into Vir- 
gil, in almost total disregard of the intermediate course prescribed by the 
Regents, are not only claimed to be classical scholars under the ordinance 
above referred to, but are sworn to be such by the affidavit of the teacher, 
which is thus falsified by his own showing ; thereby aflbrding melancholy 
evidence, if not of criminal delinquency, at least of reprehensible indiffer- 
ence, in matters of practical business. 

Both the statute of the State, and the ordinance of the Regents above refer- 
red to, provide that no one shall be considered a classical student, until he 
shall have completed a prescribed course of study, ending with the first book 
of the ^neid ; and as it is provided in another part of the statute, that classi- 
cal studies shall be pursued four months in each year, to entitle a student 
to a share of the public money, it might at first view be inferred, that the 
four months here required must elapse after a student becomes such a clas- 
sical one, that is, after his having completed the prescribed course above re- 
ferred to. But such an inference is not in accordance Avith the construction 
given by the Regents to the law, which only provides when a student shall 
be considered classical for certain specified purposes. It does not define or 
alter classical studies. So that if the prescribed course ending Avith the first 



25 

book of the ^neid be completed, and four mouths be spent in doing it, the 
requirement of the statute is satisfied, as much as if the four months had 
been spent in studies subsequent to Virgil. 

In respect to English studies, the statute provides that no student shall be 
deemed to have pursued the higher branches of English education, unless he 
shall have advanced beyond such knowledge of Arithmetic, English Gram- 
mar and Geography, as is usually obtained in common schools. The stu- 
dies preliminary to the higher branches of English education, which are 
here stated only in general terms, are more particularly prescribed and de- 
fined in the ordinance of the Regents above referred to; but neither that or- 
dinance, nor the statute on which it is founded, prescribes or defines what 
shall constitute the higher branches of such education. And hence it often oc- 
curs in academic reports, that certain studies are claimed to have the rank of 
higher branches of education, which are not allowed by the Regents to be of 
that character. The following extract from a report made by a committee of 
the Regents in 1829, will exhibit the views then entertained on this subject, 
Avhich have not been si7ice materially varied, 

" The ordinance of the Regents, prescribing the requisites and forms of the 
academic reports, defines the studies which shall be considered preliminary 
to the higher branches of English education, but does not define what those 
higher branches shall be. This omission in the ordinance is understood to 
have been made, partly on account of the difficulty of embracing in any defi- 
nition, all the subjects of study which deserve the rank of higher branches 
of education ; but chiefly for the purpose of reserving to the Regents the 
right of determining what shall be considered the higher branches of educa- 
tion, as they shall, from time to time, be presented in the academic reports. 
In the exercise of this reserved right, the committee have had no difficulty 
in considering all kinds of History, Geometry, Algebra, Botany, Rhetoric, 
Natural and Moral Philosophy, Logic, Chemistry, Book-Keeping, Survey- 
ing, Mensuration, Navigation, Astronomy, Trigonometry, Constitution of the 
United States or of this State, Grecian and Roman Antiquities, higher parts 
of Arithmitic, if particularly specified. Geography, with the use of globes 
or mapping, as entitled to be ranked among the higher branches of education ; 
but they have had some difficulty in determinmg on the character which 
ought to be given to the study of modern languages other than English, such 
as French, German, Spanish, &c. These subjects of study do not strictly- 
come within the range of an English education, nor can they be considered 
parts of the classics. They nevertheless appear to the committee to be equi- 
valent in merit to most other subjects of study which are specially favored 
by the Regents. The committee have, therefore, placed the students en- 
gaged in these studies, on a par with classical scholars, or scholars in the 
higher branches of English education. 

4 



26 

" In some of the academic reports, Geography, English Grammar and 
Arithmetic, are claimed to be higher branches of English education ; but in 
all cases where such a claim has been made Avithout any specification to 
show what particular parts of those branches have been studied, the commit- 
tee have invariably rejected the claim, considering such studies not above 
the ordinary grade of studies in common schools." 

Another committee of the Regents, in a subsequent report on the same sub- 
ject, made with special reference to the study of Geography, submitted the 
following remarks; 

" In the report of the committee of distribution for the last year, the study 
of Geography, Avith the vise of globes or mapping, was included among the 
studies appertaining to the higher branches of English education. The pre- 
sent committee do not propose to reverse the decision of their predecessors 
in respect to that study, but only to add what they consider an implied quali- 
fication of it. Geography, with the use of globes, is rightly considered as 
one of the higher branches of English education, provided the study of it 
be pursued at a proper time and in a proper way. The proper time for such 
a study is after the student has gone through with the elementary books on 
Geography, and the proper mode of studying the use of the globes is by de- 
monstrating or performing the problems relating to the globe, as laid down 
in any of the approved works an the subject. The study of Geography in 
its elementary stages, accompanied by an exhibition of the globes or a refe- 
rence to the use of them, or by the exercise of mapping, is not such a study 
as was intended to come within the definition of any of the higher branches 
of any English education." 

In a still later report, on the same or similar subjects, the following re- 
marks were submitted : 

" In some reports, Geography, Avith the use of globes, is claimed to be 
among the higher branches of English education, Avithout any designation 
of the kind of Geography studied, &c. but such claim cannot be allowed ; 
none of the elementary books on Geography can be considered " higher 
branches of education,'^ as they are expressly declared by the act of the Le- 
gislature and the ordinance of the Regents before referred to, to be prelimi- 
nary to the higher branches. But after the elementary st\idy of Geography 
be completed, if the student enter on the study of the more advanced parts of 
it, such as Physical Geography, &c. as found in the largest edition of Wood- 
bridge, Maltebrun, &c. and especially if such study be accompanied by ex- 
ercises on globes, it ought to be considered among the higher branches of 
education, and where its character is shown by sufficient specification in the 
reports, it has been uniformly so considered by the Regents. The same re- 
mark may be made in respect to Arithmetic ; its elementary parts, as defined 



27 

ia the ordinance of 1828, not being considered among the higher branches; 
but the more advanced parts, if suiHciently specified, being so considered. 

" What actually constitutes the higher branches of English education, is 
not defined by any act of the Legislature, nor by any ordinance of the Re- 
gents. This omission is not accidental ; but is owing to causes which have 
been fully staled in former reports made by committees of distribution, and 
published for the information of the academies. But the studies required to 
precede the higher branches of education are speciall}^ defined in both the 
law of the State and the ordinance of the Regents ; and it was certainly rea- 
sonable to expect that none of the studies thus declared to be preliminary to 
the higher branches, would be put forth as pait of such branches ; but such 
expectations have not been realized. In some of the reports, such studies, 
or others equally inferior, have been treated as higher branches of educa- 
tion ; but the claim to have them so considered has in all cases been overrul- 
ed by the committee." 

It will be observed, on attentively perusing the ordinance of the Regents 
of the 18th March, 1828, (herewith published,) that there is a material 
difference between classical students and students in the higher branches of 
English education, in respect to the mode of computing the period of study. 
If a student spend four months of the year in classical studies preliminary to 
Virgil, and in the first book of the iEneid of Virgil, he is a classical stu- 
dent, within the meaning of the ordinance under consideration ; but if he 
spend any length of time in the studies preliminary to the higher branches 
of English education, (specified in the second section of the said ordinance,) 
he does not thereby entitle the institution to which he belongs to any share 
of the public money : he must, after having actually pursued all the pre- 
liminary studies, and acquired all the knowledge prescribed in the second 
section of said ordinance, have spent at least four months of the year in the 
study of the higher branches of English education. If the distinction here 
stated, between classical and other students, be well understood, much of 
the difficulty heretofore experienced in making out the academic reports will 
be obviated. 

It was observed, in a former part of these remarks, that the most com- 
mon deficiencies in academic reports might be traced, either to insufficient 
extent of studies pursued, or to insufficient description of them. Deficien- 
cies from the former source having been fully noticed, it only remains to 
consider those from the latter. 

Insufficient Description. 

The statute so often above referred to requires a description or particular 
statement of the studies pursued by each pupil, with the books studied in 
whole or in part, and if in part, what part. 



28 

The subjects of study, as well as the books used in studying them, are 
here required to be stated. It is not sufficient to state either alone. In some 
instances, tlie subject studied, such as history, astronomy, &c. is stated with- 
out any mention of the texl-books used: but as the extent and character of 
any study depend much on the books used, such a description must be con- 
sidered entirely insufficient. 

Another instance of insufficient description is where studies are described 
by the words "i'/tc sarde as last ,•" leaving it uncertain Avhether the last pre- 
ceding term or last preceding student be referred to. Such references are 
proper when there is no ambiguity attending them, as in the form herewith 
published. 

But the most common fault, under the head of insufficient description, 
lies in not stating how much of each book is studied. In such cases, we 
are to intend that the whole book has been read, yet as the time spent on it 
is given, it often falsifies such intendment, as well as the affidavit of the 
teacher, in which such intendment is in effect sworn to. To specify all such 
particulars is, I am aware, attended with a great deal of labor, and not un- 
frequently with great difficulty, particularly where there are changes of 
teachers during the year for which the report is made. But as both the law 
of the State, and the ordinance of the Regents, require the trustees or their 
teachers to state the part of each book studied during each term, with the 
time spent on it, &c. the duty cannot be dispensed with. 

If there be only three terms in any academy during the year, that is, if 
any term be intended to be one-third of a year, although, on account of va- 
cations, it may not embrace four full months, yet for all practical purposes 
it may be considered as four months. 

Meteorological Returns. 

The meteorological reports from so7nc academies are so deficient, notwith- 
standing all the instructions which have been heretofore given on the sub- 
ject, that the Secretary finds it necessary to be more particular in his remarks 
than he has heretofore been. The form of registering meteorological ob- 
servations for each month, as given in a subsequent part of these instructions, 
must be strictly and literally followed in every part and particular of it. In 
some feiv reports, the half monthly means are not added up or ascertained, 
and in one instance, vulgar, instead of decimal fractions, were used in stating 
the mean of each day, and the vulgar fractions thus used had different de- 
nominatiors, so as to require the process of a reduction to a common deno- 
minator, before they could be added up. In some cases the number of days 
of each particular wind, &c. is not stated, and where they are stated, they 
often amount together to more days than there are in the month, which is 
plain proof that the account is carelessly kept. All such and other like er- 



29 

rors are sure to be detected, as every page of every meteorological report, 
must of necessity be examined critically, in order to make out the meteoro- 
logical abstract which accompanies every annual report of the Regents to 
the Legislature. Such errors cannot be hereafter tolerated, and the Secre- 
tary submits for the consideration of those teachers of academies who are 
careless in keeping their meteorological journal, whether they do not sub- 
ject the institutions in which they are employed to the risk of losing their 
distributive shares of the public money, by their delinquency in the dis- 
charge of their duty. 

Annual abstracts must be made out at the end of the monthly tables, and 
returned with those tables to the Regents. See the form of such abstracts 
in a subsequent part of these instructions. 

The above remarks on defects in the returns of meteorological observa- 
tions, are made in this place to make sure of their being read by teachers 
Vi^ho make out the returns. In a subsequent part of these instructions, many 
other remarks are made on the same subject, which all teachers who are 
desirous of having their returns correct will not fail to consult. 

The labor of taking, registering and returning meteorological observa- 
tions, is admitted to be great, and to show the sense Avhich the Regents of 
the University entertain of such services, and the efforts made to provide a 
suitable compensation for them, the following extract from the report of the 
Regents to the Legislature, made in 1837, is herewith published; 

" Meteorological returns from some of the academies have sometimes been 
charged with detected errors, and often suspected of concealed inaccuracy, 
either in the observations as originally made, or in the registry of them as 
returned to the Regents. Without undertaking to defend all the academies 
against such charges or suspicions, it seems due from us, in justice to them, 
not to overlook whatever circumstances miay be offered in mitigation of their 
occasional delinquency. Of such a character is the circumstance, that the 
labor of taking and registering meteorological observations is always con- 
siderable, and often inconvenient, requiring regular attendance at fixed and 
frequent intervals for every day and night throughout the whole year; the 
number of such observations required to be taken for every twenty-four 
hours being always at least eight, and sometimes more. To all this should 
be added, as a probable cause, if not a valid excuse for error, the further cir- 
cumstance, that the amount of labor thus required from the principal or 
some of the teachers of every academy is gratuitous, no pecuniary compen- 
sation being provided for it. If the Regents were empowered to allow a 
reasonable compensation for such services, they might probably correct or 
prevent most of the errors complained of, by requiring meteorological obser- 
vations to be taken at only a limited number of academies, to be selected for 
the purpose at suitable stations indifferent parts of the State; and byrequir- 



30 

ino- from such academies, in consideration of such selection, and of a rea- 
sonable pecuniary compensation, to be annually allowed for the service, a 
more careful discharge of their duty, and a more strict compliance with the 
instructions of the Regents. If the plan here suggested should be adopted, 
the Regents might, in addition to the observations now made only with the 
thermometer and rain-gage, require similar observations to be made with the 
barometer and hygrometer, which it is believed would be of considerable 
value, while the additional labor of making them would be inconsiderable." 

The Reo"ents of the University in their next annual report, that of 1838, 
after adverting to the above suggestions, solicited again for them the atten- 
tion of the Legislature; but no legislation on the subject has as yet taken 
place. 

Z'^aiformity of Academic Reports. 

Another defect in the academic reports, which has much increased the 
trouble of examining them, is their want of uniformity. A form for the re- 
ports has been prepared by the Secretary, and ample instructions given for 
fiUino- it up; but the teachers of several academies, rejecting the form thus 
prescribed, have substituted a different one of their own, which, although it 
may contain the substantial requisites of the one provided for them by the 
Secretary, must necessarily, by its non-conformity to the established form, 
add much to the labor of examination. In some instances, the students 
claimed as classical or in the higher branches of English education, are put 
down promiscuously with all the other students in the academy, thus sub- 
jecting the Secretary or examining committee to the unnecessary trouble of 
separating one class from the other. In other cases, the students claimed as 
classical, &c. are put down or named in reference to every quarter or term 
of the academic year, and the studies pursued in it; instead of naming the 
students only once, and putting down against their names the studies for all 
the terms of the year in immediate succession. The difference between the 
two modes of making the returns, in respect to the labor of examination, &c. 
is very great. 

It is desirable to have the academic reports uniform, not only in matters of 
substance, but also in matters of form. Some reports have been made so as 
to form a roll, which is v^ery inconvenient, both for filing and examniation. 
They should be in the form of a book, like this circular. All the sheets 
should be attached to each other; otherwise the affidavits which refer to 
them as attached, will be insufficient. But the meteorological journal should 
not be attached to the report ; as the report, when received, is to be only 
folded and filed away, while the journal is to be bound up into a volume for 
preservation and reference. The size of the paper should be that of common 
foolscap, that the returns from all the academies may be conveniently bound 
together. All reports should be forwarded so as to be received by the Se- 



31 

cretary on or before the first day of February in each year, and if sent by 
mail, the postage must be paid. 



In the preceding editions of these instructions, the Secretary of the Uni- 
versity, availing himself of the opportunities they presented for cultivating a 
more intimate relation, and establishing a more enlarged correspondence 
with the academies addressed by him, invited the special attention of their 
trustees and teachers to certain suggestions or inquiries, arranged under the 
following general heads: 

Extent of Elementary Studies. 

There is reason to believe that in some academies the elementary branches 
of education, such as reading and writing, considered as arts to be perfected 
by practice, and orthography considered as a subject of knowledge to be ac- 
quired by study, are practically, if not avowedly, treated as matters of too 
humble a rank for academic study : it being understood to be presumed, that 
such inferior branches of education have been sufficiently attended to in com- 
mon schools, whose peculiar province it is to instruct in them. And such 
a presumption must be admitted to be reasonable to a certain extent ; as all 
students who are pursuing subjects of study appropriate for an academy must 
of necessity have passed through the customary course of a common school 
education, in which reading, writing and spelling, must have formed a ne- 
cessary part. But it does not therefore follow that these elementary branches 
of education are not to be any longer cultivated in academies ; for whatever 
proficiency in them may have been made by scholars in the early stages of 
their education, if their knowledge of them be not kept alive, and matured 
by repeated exercise, during almost the whole period of their minority, they 
will probably lose much of the benefit of their early acquirements. In this 
view of the subject, it becomes desirable that the trustees should state in their 
report, how far exercises in reading, writing and spelling, are required of 
the higher classes in their academy. The information desired of them can 
readily be obtained from their teachers, and it is hoped it will not be with- 
held, either on account of the trouble of procuring it, or any supposed im- 
materiality of it when procured.* 

Pronunciation of the English Language. 
The trustees or teachers of academies, are also requested to state in their 
report, under the general head of remarks above referred to, what degree of 

* In the Albany academy, exercises in spelling are required as a part of the regular course 
of study in the lower departments, and as often, at least, as once a week, in the higher depart- 
ments. Reading and writing are also particularly attended to, especially the latter ; as a good 
hand writing, whether considered as a polite accomplishment, or a practical art, increases in 
value as society advances in civilization and refinement. Considered as an art, the demand 
for it in this country is already so great, that it will at any time supply to its possessor (in case 
his other reliances fail him) the place of an actual capital yielding a competent and respectable 
livelihood. The saving of time in reading what is well, compared with what is poorly writterij 
is so great, that it is considered good economy to pay an extra sum for good writing. 



3-2 

attention is paid in their academy to tiie correct pronunciation ot" the English 
language, and what standard of pronunciation is adopted by them. If the 
established rules of pronunciation be taught theoretically, and all errors, in 
the practical application of them, occurring in the ordinary recitations of 
scholars, and in their daily intercourse with their teachers, be promptly and 
openly corrected as often as they occur; and especially if such a course be 
pursued, where it is most needed, in the use of proper names o[ persons and 
places, there is no doubt, that every scholar of ordinary aptitude for learn- 
ino-, would, in an ordinary course of academic education, acquire a practical 
knowledge of correct pronunciation, which, growing finally into an involun- 
tary habit, he would carry with him through life. Such an acquisition 
would certainly be of great value, although if gained in the way here sug- 
gested, it would cost nothing in money, and very little in time; and scho- 
lars thus educated would not exhibit (what has sometimes been witnessed in 
others to the great disparagement of their teachers,) the discreditable con- 
trast of being always able, and sometimes ambitious, to detect the slightest 
shade of error in quantity or accent of Latin and Greek words, which they 
will probably seldom, if ever, have occasion to use in after life; while they 
are unable to detect in others, and commit daily in themselves, the grossest 
errors in the pronunciation of words in their own language of the most daily 
use. 

Subjects of Study. 

In respect to the subjects of study proper to be taught in academies, the 
Secretary, without pretending to claim any right to speak authoritatively, and 
certainly without wishing to obtrude his own opinion on others, hopes it 
will not be thought either out of time or place, for him to suggest, that as 
the current of public sentiment has, for many years, been setting gradually 
but irresistibly in favor of a course of education more and more practical than 
any before established, it would be desirable, as it would tend to promote 
the popular cause of practical education, if the trustees and teachers of aca- 
demies were to state whether, in the course of instruction established by 
them, (particularly in reference to students who are not expected to extend 
their studies beyond the limits of an ordinary academic education,) any, and 
what, discrimination is made by them, in the various subjects of academic 
study, between what is most, and what is least jJi'actical* 

* To illustrate what is here meant by practical subjects of study, the following remarks are 
submitted: 

The study of Roman antiquities, including whatever of constitutional law Rome possessed, 
with a minute description of manners, customs, habits, ceremonies, &c. has long been pursued 
in many of our academies and higher seminaries of learning, and the time commonly spent on 
them is greater than would be required to study the groat principles of our own constiuilional 
law, with selected parts of our civil jurisprudence most applicable to the common concerns of 
life, such as the solemnities required in wills and other nistruments, the proceedings necessary 
to charge endorsers of promissory notes, the statute of limitations, the law of inheritance, the 



33 

The inforination received from several academies in answer to the pre- 
ceding inquiries, as well as their own suggestions on the various subjects 
proposed for their consideration, having subserved the very useful purpose 
of communicating from one academy to another (through the medium of the 
published reports of the Regents of the University) any peculiar views 
entertained, or any special improvements made or suggested by them on the 

recording act, the common school and highway acts, the right of suffrage and the principles of 
the election law, with the duties required by law from state, county and town officers, and 
such other matters as are of like applicability to the daily occurrences in common life. A ge- 
neral knowledge of these latter subjects of study would certainly re wan! the student with much 
greater benefits in after life than any thing to be obtained from the study of Grecian or Roman 
antiquities. Yet it not unfrequently happens that sciiolars who spend quarter after quarter in 
the study of such antiquities, and who are familiar with p.ll their minuti;e, can answer hardly 
any of the most important questions on our own constitutional law and practical civil jurispru- 
dence. The antiquated constitutions, laws, manners and customs of Greece and Rome, are 
made subjects of regular study, and cultivated with great assiduity, in several of our acade- 
mies, while the study of the living practical subjects of our own constitutional law, and the 
every day occurring principles of our civil jurisprudence, is not admitted as a part of the aca- 
demic course. 

I am not to be understood as intending to disparage the study of Grecian or Roman antiqui- 
ties, where the student of them is preparing for a liberal education, or aspires to become a man 
of learning. To such, the study is indispensable; and to all students of the Latin or Greek 
language, however limited may be their viev\ s, the study is proper, as tending to illustrate the 
authors read by them; and indeed, a general knowledge of the antiquities of Greece and Rome, 
would be commendable under any circumstances, as it would greatly facilitate the study of An- 
cient History, and every thing connected with antiquity. But it does appear to me, that the 
study of our own constitutional law and practical civil jurisprudence, ought to precede, or be 
concomitant with, tliat of Grecian and Roman antiquities; and for the same reason, that the 
necessaries ol life are first to be secured before its luxuries are to be sought for; and if a student 
be so restricted in time, that only one of these subjects of study can be attended to, the former 
should always be preferred to the latter, instead of the latter being (as is sometimes the case,) 
studied to the exclusion of the former. 

Until recently, we have not had suitable books for the study of ihe practical subjects above 
referred to; but a compendious treatise on the outlines of constitutional law, prepared by W. 
A. Duer, L. L. D. President of Columbia college, and late a Regent of the University, for the 
use of academies; and a more recent treatise, under the name of '• The Young Citizens' Ma- 
nual, being a digest of the laws of the Slate of New-York, and of the United States, relating 
to crimes and their punishments, and of such other parts of the laws of tlie State of New-York 
relating to the ordinary business of social life, as are most necessary to be generally knov^n, 
witli explanatory remarks," prepared by Alfred Conkling, Judge of the District Court of the 
United States for the Northern District of New- York, are now before the public, and favorably 
known as school books. A small treatise on the duties of state, county and town officers, pre- 
pared and published at Utica, is also before the public, and v\ith the like favorable reputation. 
The books above referred to liave all been iniroduced into the Albany Academy as text or class 
books, for the siudy of the subjects lo which tliey relate, and wirieli liave for some time been 
considered as integral parts of the regular course of study pursued in that institution. 

In almost all the higher branches of education taught in our academies, there are parts imme- 
diately applicable to the practical purposes of life, while other parts, although not altogether 
inapplicable to those purposes, are of an abstruse or speculative character; being designed rather 
tf) gratify a taste of philosophical or abstract inquiry, than to subserve any very useful or prac- 
tical purpose. They are all proper subjects of study, without much discrimination, where stu- 
dents have time enough to attend to them, and have already attended to the more practical 
parts. But students who are restricted in time, as happens probably lo a majority in our aca- 
demies, and whose great object is to acquire knowledge which will best subserve their future 
purposes of life, should carefully discriminate, or rather their teachers should discrin-.inate for 
them, between wliat is practical and what is abstruse or speculaiive. 

To the objection urged against the study of the abstruse or mere speculative parts of science, 
the answer commonly given is, t' at the object of such study is not so much to acquire useful 
knowledge as to exercise and improve the understanding of the learner. But this answer, al- 
though it meets the objection in part, does not satisfy or remove it, for while the fact of such 
exercise and improvement be not denied, it is equally undeniable that the understanding of a 
pupil may be as much exercised and improved by studying more useful and practical subjects; 
and the benefits to him will be thereby doubled; for while he improves his understanding, he 
stores his mind with useful knowledge. 

On most subjects of study, knowledge acquired is as the time bestowed. The same time 
spent in studying the most worthless, would have served lo gain the same amount of know- 
ledge of the most useful. How wise then to bestow our time on the one ! how unwise to 
waste it on the other ! 



34 

subject of education, it occurred to the Secretary of the University, while 
preparing the last edition of these instructions, that similar inquiries might, 
■with a prospect of similar success, be extended to various other subject mat- 
ters not less worthy of notice than those already enumerated. The limits, 
however, necessarily prescribed to him on that, as on the present occasion, 
have not permitted such inquiries to be extended beyond one or two topics. 

Physical Education. 
Education considered in its most extensive sense, that of being a process 
for improving" individuals of the human species, to the full extent of their ca- 
pabilities, includes physical as well as intellectual or moral improvement. 
According to the best established theories on the subject, education is held to 
be properly divisable, and is now commonly divided into three great depart- 
ments, distinguished in reference to their diflerent subject matters, into phy- 
sical, moral and inlcUectual. Of these several departments, the intellectual 
being considered the most appropriate, if not the most important, for public 
instruction, has always received, and will doubtless continue to receive in all 
public institutions, much the greatest share of public attention. Until re- 
cently, indeed, in most of our academies, as well as colleges, intellectual 
was cultivated to the almost total neglect of physical, if not oi moral educa- 
tion. But since the principles of Physiology, as applied to the human 
system, have been more thoroughly investigated, and their value more justly 
and generally appreciated, physical education, which depends on the know- 
ledge of such principles, has risen in public estimation to a much higher 
rank than it formerly held. A knowledge of the laws of health or of the 
means of preserving it, which was once chiefly confined and thought proper- 
ly to belong to physicians only, has finally found its way into many of our 
public schools, where it is now cultivated as a regular branch of public in- 
struction. 

To cure disease is admitted to be the peculiar office of a physician ; and 
no encroachment on his professional province in that respect is intended or 
ought to be allowed; but to prevent disease, which ordinarily consists only 
in knowing and obeying the laws of health, or in fulfilling the conditions 
prescribed for its enjoyment, is not a matter of like professional or exclu- 
sive monopoly. Nor is it so considered by physicians, many of whom are 
among the most strenuous adv^ocates for making physiology, and particu- 
larly that part of it which relates to the laws of health, or the means of se- 
curing and preserving the human system in its best possible condition, a sub- 
ject of regular study in all our institutions for public instruction. And so 
general has public sentiment now become in favor of such a study, that no- 
thing but a want of suitable text-books has prevented its general introduc- 
tion into our public schools. 



35 

In view of such considerations, it becomes desirable to ascertain what de- 
gree of attention is paid in any of our academies to physical education, con- 
sidered with special reference to health, or to the best possible development 
of the corporeal or animal functions. The trustees or teachers of academies 
are therefore requested to communicate in their future reports to the Reo-ents, 
the information desired on the subject above proposed, particularly in as far 
as it relates to ventilation of school rooms; corporeal position of scholars in 
school, and gymnastic or other exercises out of school, &c. 

The teachers of some academies, while professing to furnish the informa- 
tion as above requested, have described the peculiar advantages, or facilities, 
for ventilation which their school rooms possessed, without stating the im- 
portant fact, whether and how they practically avail themselves of such ad- 
vantages or facilities. That it may be seen what importance is attached 
to such matters elsewhere, the following extract from the regulations or 
instructions established for the government of a Normal school of distin- 
guished celebrity at Edinburgh, is subjoined: 

•* Great attention should be given to the ventilation of school rooms, so 
that on no account, even for a few minutes their inmates, shall breathe bad air. 
The privileges and advantages of ventilation must be dwelt on ; the tempe- 
rature of school rooms must be attended to ; there must be no constrained 
posture either in standing or sitting; no injury to the spine by want of back 
support in sitting; and no confinement for more than an hour at a time with' 
out exercise in open air, with the benefit of rotary swings and other safe 
gymnastics; rooms when empty, to be well aired by cross windows ; and 
such airing to be repeated hourly Avhen practicable."* 

These regulations are minute, and may at first view appear unimportant ; 
but not so, it is believed, after further reflection. The importance of ven- 

* In the Albiny Female Academy llie trustees, some years since, established the following 
regulations on the subject of ventilating then- school rooms, which have ever siiiee been strict- 
ly enforced, and with the most beneficial results : — " It shall be the duty of the steward to see 
that the whole academy edifice be kept at all times ventilated in the best practicable manner, 
and to secure such ventilation, wliich the trustees consider of the very first importance, it is 
hereby made the special duty of tlie steward ( until a suitable wntilator through the ceiling 
and roof, above the upper hall, shall be construoled) to lower or cause to be lowered, alter the 
exercises of each day shall be closed, as well in the winter as in the summer season, an upper 
sash of one or more of the windov\s in ench of the rooms in the acadenij' which shall liav« 
been occupied during the day, and to cause ti.e same to be kept so lowered during the summer 
reason for the whole night, except in rainy, or other unsuitnbie weather, and in other seasons 
of the year to cause the same to be kept so lowered for at least an hour each ('ay, and at all 
times, when the weather will permit, to keep the u(>per sash of one or more of the windows 
in the chapel {being an npper room) ilovvn both night and day, and also to keep, during the 
day time in the summer season, and whenever the weather will permit in other seasons of the 
year, the front or outward door, opening into the lower hall, open, by fastening the same back, 
and also to keep one of the sashes in the windows of the halls above, either up or down, so as 
to admit of the constant entrance of fresh air." 

It is proper to state in connection wiih the subject of the above note, that the trustees of the 
same academy have established a regulation on another subject which they consider of equal 
importance — that of providing seats with backs, so that no pupils in their academy shall be 
permitted to sit without suitable back supports. The object of such a regulation is too obvious 
to require explanation, and it is hoped that it only requires to be presented to the notice of 
trustees and teachers to secure its adoption in all our academies, G. H. 



36 

illation, especially, cannot well be overrated. It is a subject which has re- 
cently attracted much public attention, both in this and in other countries, 
and it is now undergoing a course of investigation and discussion, which is 
expected to lead to the most beneficial results. 

Extent of Study Memoriter, or hy Rote. 
To suffer a pupil to learn the demonstration of a mathematical theorem by 
role, which is a mere artificial drill on the memory, without the exercise of 
the understanding, would be condemned as absurd. On the other hand, to 
require a pupil, in adding or multiplying numbers in arithmetical operations, 
to rely on his understanding solely, without any aid from artificial memory, 
in the use of addition or multiplication tables, would be equally absurd. — 
Hence it is plain that some subjects of study must be addressed chiefly to the 
understanding, while others require only the aid of memory. To the for- 
mer class, belong all conclusions drawn by reasoning from pre-established 
premises, whether on moral, mathematical, or physical subjects. And of a 
kindred, although not of the same character, are all such matters as, be- 
ing connected by certain affinities, ma}"-, when once learned in that con- 
nection, be recalled to mind by a principle of association, which in such 
cases supplies the place of artificial memory. To the other class, that of 
thino-s requiring to be learned by rote, belong all isolated facts as well as 
uUimate principles. And if, for the purpose of securing a more ready com- 
mand over them, we treat as belonging to the same class, many facts not 
wholly isolated, as well as many principles not strictly ultimate, we shall 
probably find it tend much more to effect our object, than to depend for their 
remembrance in time of need, on the uncertain power of recollecting them 
from their relations to other things ; for it will be found that in proportion as 
such facts and principles have been learned by rote in early life; so will com- 
monly be their subserviency to practical purposes in after life. Let anyone 
of mature age undertake to estimate the value of having a ready command 
over such facts and principles, and, unless his early education shall have 
been different from the common course, he will regret that his store of them 
is not more abundant; and if it were possible for him to recal and revise 
what is past, it cannot be doubted, that to enlarge that store would be among 
the first acts of his revision. How many matters once well understood in 
their rationale, but long since forgotten, he would make the subjects of study 
by rote, reiterating their impression on his memory for the same reason, 
if not to the same extent, as in early life he did the common addition and 
multiplication tables, or the common rules in grammar and arithmetic. How 
industrious would he be in treasuring up for future use, such matters as the 
specific gravity of bodies — their constituent parts and proportions, with other 
like important truths in chemistry and physics — the leading dates and events 
in history, topographical statistics, with many other matters alike important 



87* 

for future reference. Nor would he, in laying up such a store of know- 
ledge, fail to include in it some of the leading principles of science : such for 
example, as the universal law of gravity — attr action inversely as the square 
of distance ; or the law of falling.bodies — spaces described as the squares of 
the ti7ties ; or the fundamental principle in mechanics — equality of products 
from moving power and resisting weight multiplied each into its own velocity; 
or separately — viomentum, as quantity of matter multiplied into its veiocily; 
and such also as the important law of fluids — pressure, as depth indepen' 
dent of breadth, with resistance to bodies moving in it as the square of their 
velocities ; or such as the sublime discovery in astronomy — planets all mov- 
ing in elliptical orbits, each describing equal areas in equal times, with the 
squares of their periodic times, as the cubes of their mean distances from- 
the sun. How greatly to be desired would be a knowledge of such princi- 
ples always at command ; and yet if we depend for our knowledge of them, 
on having once demonstrated them, how frail will be the dependence ! how 
transient the knowledge ! While on the other hand, if such knowledge be 
artificially impressed on the memory, like that of other things learned in 
early life by rote, how lasting it becomes ! The demonstration of the 
principle may long since have been forgotten, but the principle itself will re- 
main. • 

From a course of remarks similar to the above, in the last edition of these 
instructions, it was, as I have been informed, inferred by some, under whose 
notice the remarks happened to fall, that the writer of them intended to re- 
commend study by rote, in preference to study by demonstration ; thus ex- 
alting the faculty of memory to the debasement of that of the understandino-. 
And it must be admitted that from certain unqualified expressions inadvert- 
ently used on that occasion, such an inference would seem to be in some 
measure warranted. But no such inference was intended or foreseen. The 
writer Avould hope to be among the last to disparage intelligent study, or to 
enlarge the province of memory by encroaching on that of the understanding. 
The only position intended to be taken by him was simply this — that there 
are many principles, which being once learned from demonstration ought to 
be afterAvards inculcated by rote ; not that they were to be originally learn- 
ed in that way, but only so inculcated after first being demonstrated in the 
ordinary way. 

The position thus qualified and explained is still maintained, and may, I 
think, be easily defended. Let us illustrate it by a few practical cases. 
Suppose it be required to compute the superficial areas of different figures: 
how important to have at command the principles on which the computation 
depends; such as the area of a parallelogram being equal to the product of 
its base into its altitude — of a triangle to one half such product — of a circle 
to the product of one half its radius into its cir(;umference, and of a sphere 



38 

to four times that product. So if we wish to compare the areas of different 
figures, how desirable to know that the areas of all similar figures are as the 
squares of their corresponding or homologous sides — or if it be required to 
compute the solid contents of bodies, how convenient to be able to apply at 
once the principles of the computation — such as a cone being one-third of a 
cylinder of the same base and altitude — a sphere two-thirds of a cylinder 
circumscribed around it and having the same altitude — with innumerable 
other cases of a similar character. Or if we change the field of illustration 
from geometry to physics, we shall find equally striking instances of the 
same general truth ; such for example as the case of a traveller desirous to 
measure the depth of a precipice, on the top of which he stands. How im- 
portant, for that purpose, that he should know without recource to books, 
that if he throw down a stone it will fall sixteen feet the first second, forty- 
eio-ht the next, and so on — the spaces described being always as the squares 
of the times of descent; so that if he have with him a watch beating seconds, 
or for want of that, if he refer to the beatings of his own pulse, in an ordi- 
nary state, he can ascertain with sufficient accuracy the depth of the preci- 
pice to be measured. Again, if we are acquainted with the specific gravities 
of different bodies, and have the knowledge so stored in the memory as to be 
always available, how convenient it would be for practical application in 
estimating the weight of stone, iron, &c. Or to be more particular, suppose 
a traveller wishes to ascertain the height of a mountain he is about to ascend. 
If he has had the good fortune to learn and retain in memory, the specific 
gravity of mercury and atmospheric air, he will, on comparing them, find 
the former about 12,000 times heavier than the latter, from which he will at 
once infer that one inch of mercury is equal in weight to 12,000 inches of 
air — or in other Avords, that a fall of one inch in his barometer indicates an 
ascent of 12,000 inches, or 1,000 feet, up the mountain. 

To illustrate the value of knowledge at command, I will only refer to one 
other case, that of ascertaining heights and distances from the sphericity of 
the earth. Every mile of even surface, such as that of water, curvates from 
a straight line eight inches — two miles, thirty-two inches — three miles, se- 
venty-two inches, or six feet; the curvation being always as the square of 
the distance. Hence if we are acquainted with the simple principle here 
stated, we may measure heights by distances, and distances by heights, with 
only one of them given or ascertained; and if our knowledge of the princi- 
ple be always at command, how convenient it would be for practical use 
when a ship at sea first discovers the top of a mountain, light-house, or 
other object of known elevation ; for by knowing its elevation, its distance 
may be at once ascertained; so if the distance be known the elevation of the 
mountain may be in like manner ascertained. 

The principle involved in all the cases referred to in the preceding re- 



39 

marks, in defence of the position there assumed, ought, I admit, to be de- 
monstrated, so far as it may be demonstrable, by every student, on his first 
undertaking to learn it ; and he should be kept to the demonstration imtil he 
fully comprehends it. But after that be done, I hold, and have in the preced- 
ing remarks endeavored to show, that the principle itself without the de- 
monstration should be inculcated on the memory in the same manner as if it 
were to be learned only by rote. Demonstrations in their best form are too 
complex, and in their common form too artificial to be long retained in me- 
mory ; but principles, abstracted from their demonstrations, and expressed 
with suitable concentration of thought and language, are not more difficult 
to be learned and retained by rote, than most other things which it is com- 
mon to learn and retain in that way. Take for example the principle in- 
volved in one of the cases above referred to, that of measuring heights and 
distances from the sphericity of the earth. The demonstration of the princi- 
ple would occupy considerable time, and require much thought, but the prin- 
ciple itself may be concentrated almost to a point, such as — the surface of the 
earth curvates from any given point, according to the square of the distance, 
being for a single mile eight inches. The demons tratioyi of such a principle, 
it would be diflicult for most persons to retain long in memory, but the prin- 
ciple itself being once learned by rote, nothing would be easier than to re- 
tain it ; it would indeed remain of itself, like every thing else which becomes 
habitual or involuntary. 

The chief object of the preceding remarks is to present for the considera- 
tion of academic teachers, Avhat is thought to be an important subject, and 
to invite them in their future reports, to communicate as mere matter of fact, 
how far the mode of instruction pursued by them is in accordance with the 
principles involved in those remarks.* 



* The writer of these instructions intended at first to present, for the consideration of acade- 
mic teachers, another subject — that oi composition, considered as a scliolaslic exercise; but 
having already readied, if not gone beyond, tlie limits prescribed to him, he is prevented from 
executing liis first intention. He cannot, however, forbear to present, in the most unpretend- 
ing form, that of an appendix note, a few brief suggestions on the subject above referred to. 

Composition is an exercise requiring two different operations of the mind— originating or car- 
rying on a train of Ihouglit, and expressing it in language. How intimately these operations 
are connected, and how wonderfully they act and react on each other, it is not here proposed 
to inquire; all I propose now to do is to offer a few remarks on composition, considered in refe- 
rence merely to language. 

Language, in whatever point of light it may be considered, resolves itself ultimately into 
the use of outward signs for expressing inward thought or feeling; words being nothing but 
signs, and their meaning the things signified. In readii.g printed, or hearing spoken liinguage, 
which is more or less the daily occupation of almost every person, we are constantly passing 
from the sign to the thing signified — from words to their meaning; and hence we become so 
familiar with their connection in that order where the sign is first presented, and the mind al- 
ways passps from that to the thing signified — that we are never embarrassed in the ordinary 
exercise of reading written, or hearing spoken language. A man of common education will 
read a common English book a whole day, without being at a loss for the meaning of a single 
word in it. The reason undoubtedly is, that during his early education it was his daily prac- 
tice to learn, and in after life to apply words and their meaning in the order in which they are 
always presented in reading. But how immeasurably different with the same man (supposing 
him to be of the ordinary class,) is the same exercise when reversed — that is, when he is re- 
quired to pass from the thing signified to the sign — from thought to language or expression — 



40 

Distributio7i of the Literature Fund. 
The Literature fund is now under the care and management of the 
Comptroller of the State, in the same manner as the Common School fund. 

which constitutes the whole exercise of composition, as we are now considering it. He hesi- 
tates — is embarrassed — and at a loss every step he takes; not because he is ignorant of the 
meaning of words, or of their connection, considered as signs, with thought, as the thing 
signified; but because he is not familiar with that connection presented in tliat order, wliere 
the idea or thing signified comes first, and the word or sign of it last. Only give him the sign 
first and he passes instantly to the tiling signified, because he is daily accusto red to such an 
operation — to seeing words or hearing sounds, and connecting them with their appropriats 
meaning. 

To show how much depends on the order in which we are accustomed to learn things, we 
have only to refer to our knowledge of the common alphabet, where we slwll find every thing 
depending on the order in which iis letters have been learned. If we repeat them in their ac- 
customed order we run through them with the greatest ease and rapidity; but on reversing 
that order anJ attempting to repeat the letters backwards, we meet with the greatest embar- 
rassment ; and yet their is nothing in the nature of the letters making them easier to learn or 
repeat in one order than in another. Each order is in itself arbitrary — for if we make ourselves 
as familiar with the letters in their reversed as in their direct order, wo find it as easy to say 
them backwards as forwards. And so it is with language, if we can make ourselves as familiar 
with the connection between words and ideas, in the reversed as in the direct order, we shall 
find as little difficulty in passing from one to the other, in one order as another. 

Since then so much depends on the order in which we are accustomed to consider words and 
ideas it would seem to be reasonable to conclude that in proportion as we become familiar 
with that order, as it always occurs in composition, will be our facility in composing — and that 
if we can become as familiar with the exercise of composing for ourselves, as we are with that 
of reading what is composed by others, we may (having reference only to language) perform 
one operation as easily as the other. Assuming such a conclusion to be well founded, how 
can we best accomplish so desirable an object — that of making ourselves as familiar with com- 
position as with reading. Shall wo require more frequent exercises in composition, in which 
the student is always first required to find ideas, and then signs or words to express them? 
That would tend directly to accomplish the object, and where there is no want of ideas, and 
no reluctance to undertake the written expression of them, no better means of accomplishment 
can be used. But are such means ordhiarUy the best that can be applied '? The youthful 
mind is commonly more reluctant to engage in exercises of composition, than in any thing else 
required to be done. And why is it so '? They who have no want of ideas, and know how 
to express them, feel no such reluctance. On the contrary, they are often ambitious to give 
body and form to their conceptions, either in written or spoken language. The reluctance then 
must proceed either from paucity of ideas, or inability to express them — from want of thought 
or i'lnorance of language, or from both causes combined. The latter is probably the most com- 
mon source of the reluctance, and we shall accordingly so consider it. The question then ari- 
ses, what are the best means of supplying such defect or want of thought, and of imparting 
the requisite knowledge of language 1 Without undertaking to enumerate all the means that 
may be used for such a purpose, I will only here specify two of them — translation from a dead 
or foreign language into our own — and analysis of English text books. These I consider to be 
the mos^t leading and important means, not only to remove the reluctance above noticed, and 
thereby to gain indireclh/ the principal end above proposed, but also to subserve that end di- 
rectbj. This may, I think, be shown by the following summary views, which might be great- 
ly amplified, if time and space would permit. 

In translating from another into our own language, the first step in the process is to find out 
the thought or idea to be translated. When that is done, the next step is, or at least should 
be. to find English words best fitted, and to collate or arrange them in the order best calculated 
to express the translated idea, according to the true spirit or idiom of the English Ir.nguage. 
Here then we have an operation directly tlie reverse of that which occurs in reading from our 
own language. Instead of passing from words to ideas, — from the sign to the thing signified, 
which is all that we do in reading, — we do, in the exercise or act of translation, necessarily 
pass from ideas to words, — from the thing signified to the sign, thus becoming as familiar with 
their connection, when viewed in the reversed, as we were before in the direct order. Now 
such a reversed view is what is always required to be taken in every exercise in composition; 
and in proportion to our fimiliarity with such a view, will bo our facility in composing. In 
short, to sum up the whole matter in the fewest possible words, translation from one language 
into another is, in respect to its inilaencc on the power of expressing tliought in the language 
to which it is converted, a continued process of compo.siiion in the latter language. It is not 
merely equivalent to such a process, but is such a process itself. Here then probably lies the 
chief, or one of the chief benefits derivable from the study of the Latin and Greek languages. 
They furnish the most abundant and variegated store of ideas; and at the same time the collo- 
cation of their words is so radically different from ours, that the translation of them into our 
own language serves the purpose of improvement in English composition, in the same man- 
ner and io the same extent, as the exercise of clothing or expressing an origina,l idea in its ap- 
propriate English language. 



41 

The apportionment or distribution of its income among academies, is made 
by the Regents of the University, annually, in the month of February, (or- 
dinarily in the latter part of that month.) As soon as the apportionment is 
made, it is certified by the Chancellor and Secretary of the University to the 
Comptroller, by whose warrant the amount apportioned to each academy 
will be paid by the Treasurer of the State, on drafts or orders therefor drawn 
on him by the treasurers of the several academies ; such drafts or orders be- 
ing accompanied by a proper certificate from the president or secretary of the 
academy, under its corporate seal, that the person signing the draft is the 
treasurer of the academy, duly appointed by the trustees thereof The draft 
may be in the following form: 

To the Treasurer of the State of Neui-York. 

Pay to or order, the amount of money apportioned or 

to be apportioned during the present year, to Academy, by 

the Regents of the University, out of the income of the Literature fund. 

Dated, &c. A. B. Treasurer of Academy. 

State of New-York, ) 
County of \ ' 

It is hereby certified, that A. B. the person signing 
the above draft or order, is the treasurer of Academy, above 

named, duly appointed by the Trustees thereof; and that the said draft was 
duly signed by him. 

In witness whereof, the corporate seal of said Academy is hereon im- 
pressed, this day of, &c. 

C. D. President or Secretary 
[l. s.] (as the case may be) of Academy. 

If there be no seal of the academy, that fact should be stated in the certi- 
ficate. 



In view of this latter source of benefit from the study of Latin and Gieek, what are we to 
think of the practice, tolerated, if not encouraged in some of our academies, of allowing stu- 
dents in those languages to consult ad Libitum, translations of the books read by them ? What 
else can we think of it, than that it tends to defeat one of the cliief and most rational objects 
that can be proposed in such a study — that of improving the inventive faculty in the expression 
of thought ? How much less irrational is it, than to give to a student a subject for his exercise 
in composition, and then to write it out for him ? What is it, in short, but giving liim at once 
both a sign and the thing signified, without requring or allowing any exercise of his own facul- 
ties 1 But although we might greatly enlarge on this topic, our limits, both in time and space, 
forbid its further prosecution. We have only room to add a very few remarks on the exercise 
of analyzing text books. 

The analysis of English text books may be so conducted, as to subserve the purposes of im- 
provement in English composition, in much the same manner, and for the same reasons, as 
translation from a foreign language into our own. The text book furnishes a train of thought, 
expressed in language more or less peculiar to each author, and if the student be required to 
express the same thought in his own language, to borrow only the author's ideas, but not his 
words, he will necessarily exercise his mind in finding signs or words for ideas, — that is, in 
passing from the thing signified to the sign, in much the same manner as if he were translat- 
ing a foreign into his native language, or clothing an original idea in its appropriate words. — 
If such be a correct view of the case, liow much to be condemned must that practice or mode 
of instruction be, which allows a student, in analyzing a text book, to use in all cases the lan- 
guage of its author, or which does not admonish iiirn of his error, when he does so use it. 

G. H. 

G 



ApplicaUons for Money to purchase Books, tSj-c. 

By an act of the Legislature, passed April 22d, 1834, (Session Laws of 
that year, chap. 140,) the Regents are required to distribute $12,000 (since 
increased to ^40,000) annually to the several academies entitled to partici- 
pate in the public money, which sum is to be expended by the several acade- 
mies receiving it, " exclusively towards paying teachers' wages." The Re- 
gents had before required it to be so expended, but it is now matter of law, 
and a neglect of such a legal provision will subject the delinquent academy 
to a forfeiture of its future share of the public money. 

The act above referred to having authorized the Regents to apply the ex- 
cess of the annual income of the Literature fund over $12,000 to the pur- 
chase of books and apparatus for the use of academies, on certain conditions 
therein mentioned, an ordinance in relation to that matter was adopted by the 
Regents on the 1st of May, 1834, of which the following is a copy: 

ORDINANCE. 

The Regents of the University having been empowered by an act of the 
Legislature, ^'relating to the disiribuLion and app/ication of the revenues of 
the" Liter ature fund," passed April 22, 1834, to assign, in their discretion, 
to the several academies and schools subject to their visitation, certain parts 
of said revenue, not exceeding $250 a year to any one of said academies 
and schools, to be applied to the purchase of text books, maps and globes, 
or philosophical or chemical apparatus, for the use of such academies and 
schools, subject to such rules and regulations as the said Regents shall pre- 
scribe : 

And it being provided by the said act, that no part of the moneys so to be 
assigned to any academy or school, shall be actually paid over to them, un- 
less their trustees shall ''raise and apply an equal sum of money to the same 
object" (which said provision, according to the decision of the Regents here- 
tofore made thereon, requires said sum to be raised from sources other than 
the corporate funds already possessed by said academies and schools:) 

And the trustees of sundry academies, in compliance with a resolution of 
the Regents, of the 25th of April, 1834, having signified their intention to 
raise and apply certain sums of money for the purposes contemplated by said 
act in case they receive from the Regents an equal sum of money to be 
applied for the same purposes; but no evidence having as yet been pre- 
sented to the Regents, that the said sums of money so intended to be raised 
and applied by the said trustees, have been actually raised, or secured to be 
raised, in the manner required by the said act; and the trustees of some of 
said academies, in declaring their intention to raise said sums of money, 
havino- acted on the presumption that the same might be raised by an appro- 
priation out of their existing corporate funds, which is contrary to the true 
intent and meaning of the said act, as understood and adjudicated by the Re- 
gents: 

And it appearing to the Regents to be intended by the said act, that the 
books and apparatus to be purchased as therein contemplated, should be ap- 
proved of by them: 

Be it therefore ordained by the Regents of the University, 

First. That no part of the revenue of the Literature fund, to be assigned 



43 

to any academy or school for any of the purposes contemplated by the said 
act, shall be paid over to such academy or school, until the trustees thereof 
shall certify and declare under their corporate seal, that the money required 
by said act to be raised and applied by them for the same purposes, has been 
raised by contribution, donation, or from other sources independent of their 
ov/n corporate property: That the same has been actually paid to their 
treasurer, or satisfactorily secured to be paid to him on demand therefor, 
to be applied for the purposes above mentioned, designating- said purposes by 
specifying the particular books, maps and articles of apparatus proposed to 
be purchased by them. 

Secojid. Whenever (but not oftener than once a year, and during the an- 
nual session of the Regents,) the trustees of any such academy or school 
shall present to the Regents the certificate required by the preceding section 
of this ordinance, the Regents will, in case such certificate, or the matters 
therein contained be satisfactory to them, appropriate out of the revenue of 
the Literature fund set apart for that purpose, (being the excess of said re- 
venue over $12,000) so far as the same shall be sufficient for that purpose, 
after first satisfying and paying thereout the appropriation already made by 
them for the support of the departments for educating teachers of common 
schools established in certain academies, a sum of money equal to what 
shall appear from such certificate to be raised for the purposes therein speci- 
fied, (but not exceeding the am.ount allowed by said act,) to be applied to 
the purchase of such books, maps and articles of apparatus as shall be spe- 
cified in such certificate, or to the purchase of such other books, maps and 
articles of apparatus, as the Regents shall designate and direct to be pur- 
chased in lieu thereof, or of part thereof; notice of the articles so to be de- 
signated and substituted, being given to the said trustees. 

Third. Whenever any appropriation shall be made by the Regents pur- 
suant to the provisions contained in the last preceding section of this ordi- 
nance, it shall be the duty of the Chancellor and Secretary of the University 
to certify the same to the Comptroller of the State, that the same may be 
paid by him according to the statute in such case made and provided. 

Fourth. The Secretary shall cause this ordinance to be printed, and copies 
thereof to be sent to all the academies and schools in the State subject to the 
visitation of the Regents. 

A true copy. 

GIDEON HAWLEY, 
Secretary of the University. 

The preceding ordinance was drawn up so particularly, that it was not at 
the time thought that any form for an application under it would be neces- 
sary — but it has been found from experience, that applications are made, ap- 
parently without regard to the most important provision in the ordinance, 
that requiring the money to be raised from sources other than the corporate 
property of the academy. The following form for such application is there- 
fore published as part of these instructions. 

To the Regeyits of the University of the State of Neio- York : 
" The trustees of Academy respectfully represent that they have 

raised, or caused to be raised, the sum of dollars, to be applied to 

the purchase of books and apparatus, pursuant to the act of the Legislature 



44 

relating to the distribution and application of the revenues of the Literature 
fund, passed April 22, 1834; that the said sum has been raised by dona- 
tions or contributions from sources independent of their own corporate pro- 
perty : that the same has been actually paid to their treasurer, or satisfacto- 
rily secured to be paid to him on demand therefor ; that it is intended to ap- 
ply the said sum of money, together Avith the money hereby applied for pur- 
suant to said act, to the purchase of the books and articles of apparatus par- 
ticularly specified in the schedule hereunto annexed. 

The said trustees therefore hereby apply to the Regents of the University 
for an appropriation to the said academy of the sum of dollars out of the 
moneys mentioned in the said act, to be applied, together with the like sum 
raised by them as above mentioned, to the purposes stated in said schedule, 
pursuant to the provisions of the act above referred to. 

Done by the trustees of said academy at a legal meeting held, &c. [con- 
cluding the application in the same manner as is provided for the annual re- 
port in the form published in the first part of these instructions.] 



Copy of an Ordinance, 'passed May 10, 1836. 

The Regents, considering the amount of money already appropriated, and 
which may hereafter be appropriated, pursuant to their ordinance of the 1st 
of May, 1834, and the act of the Legislature therein mentioned, to sundry 
academies for the purchase of books and apparatus, and it appearing to them 
proper that more satisfactory evidence of the manner in which such money 
is expended should be furnished to them, Ordain, 

That the trustees of every academy to whom any money has been appro- 
priated for the purposes above mentioned, be required to render in their next 
annual report to be made by them, a particular and specific account of the 
manner in Avhich such money, together with the money raised by them for 
the like purposes, has been expended ; and that the trustees of every acade- 
my to whom any such money shall hereafter be appropriated for similar pur- 
poses, be required to render a like account of such expenditures in their an- 
nual report to be made by them next after receiving such money. 



INCORPORATION OF ACADEMIES. 

The following is a copy of a Resolution of the Regents of the University, 
relative to the Incorporation of Academics, cjv:. originally adopted in 
1801. 

Resolved, That in future no academy ought to be incorporated, unless it 
shall be made to appear by satisfactory evidence to this board, that a proper 
building for the purpose hath been erected, and finished and paid for ; and 
that funds have been obtained and well secured, producing an annual nett 
income of at least $100, (increased in 1815 to $250;) and further, that there 
be a condition in the charter of incorporation, that the principal, or estate 
producing said income, shall never be diminished or appropriated, and that 
the said income shall be applied only to the maintenance or salaries of the 
professors or tutors of the academy. 

The act of the Legislature of the 17th April, 1838, herewith published, 
having provided that every academy owning property to the value of $2,500, 
invested in an academy building, library, and apparatus, might subject itself 



45 

to the visitation of the Regents, and become entitled to participate in the dis- 
tribution of the Literature fund, on the Regents' being satisfied that such 
property is of the required value of $2,500 — an ordinance was thereupon 
passed (see section 6lh of the ordinance of the 25th April, 1838, herewith 
published,) providing that all ordinances heretofore adopted by the Regents 
on the subject of the incorporation of academies, be so modified in respect to 
the kind and value of property required to be possessed by the applicants for 
such incorporation, as to conform, in that respect, to the requirements of the 
statute above referred to. All future applicants to the Regents of the Uni- 
versity for the incorporation of academies, will therefore be required to shew 
property, in buildings, library and apparatus, to the value of $2,500, with- 
out regard to other kinds of property, or to its annual revenue. 

The following extracts from the Revised Statutes, part 1, chap. 15, title 1, 
article 3, sections 38, 39 and 40, contain the most material provisions made 
by law for the incorporation of academies. 

" § 38. The founders and benefactors of any academy, or as many of them 
as shall have contributed more than one half in value of the property col- 
lected for the use thereof, may make to the Regents an application in writ- 
ing, under their hands, requesting that such academy may be incorporated, 
nominating the first trustees, and specifying the name by which the corpora- 
tion is to be called. 

" § 39. In case the Regents shall approve thereof, they shall, by an in- 
strument under their common seal, declare their approbation of the incorpo- 
ration of the trustees of such academy, by the name specified in such appli- 
cation, and the request and instrument of approbation shall be recorded in 
the office of the Secretary of State. 

" § 40. Immediately after recording the same, the property and funds of 
such academy shall be vested in the trustees so nominated, for the use and 
benefit of said academy." 

Applications to the Regents of the University for the incorporation of aca- 
demies should be in the following 

FORM: 
To the Regents of the TJydversity of the State of Neio-York. 

The application of the subscribers, inhabitants of &c. 

respectfully represents. That being desirous to found an academy at 
&c. they have for that purpose, (together with others, if the fact be so,) pro- 
cured a suitable lot, erected a suitable building thereon, and supplied it with 
a suitable library and apparatus, for the accommodation of such academy • 
that the said lot consists of [here describe the lot, building, library, appara- 
tus, title, incumbrances, &c. each separately, as required from all other aca- 
demies on their first report to be made pursuant to the ordinance of the Re- 



46 

gents of the 25lb April, 1838. See the first «even sections in the form for 
academic reports, published in the former part of these instructions.] 

And the said subscribers further represent, that thej^ have contributed 
more than one half in value of the property collected for the use of said aca- 
demy, as herein before set forth ; that they are desirous to have said acade- 
my incorporated, by the name of [here state the name which it is desirable 
should be descriptive of the place where the academy is ;] and to that end 
they hereby nominate the following named persons to be the first trustees of 
said academy: [here insert names — but there cannot be m.ore than 24 or less 
than 12 trustees.] 

The said subscribers do therefore hereby make application to the Regents 
of the University, for the incorporation of the persons above nominated as 
the first trustees of said academy, by the name above specified. 

Dated, &c. 



INCORPORATION OF COLLEGES. 

On the 20th day of May, 1836, the following ordinance, relative to the in- 
corporation of colleges was adopted : 



ORDINANCE. 



1. Resolved, That every future application that may be made by a citi- 
zen or citizens or bodies corporate in this State to the Regents of the Uni- 
versity, for the purpose of founding a college within this Slate, under the 
sixth section of the act passed 5th April, 1813, entitled "An act relative to 
the University," shall satisfactorily exhibit to the Regents, that it is the in- 
tention of such founder or founders to provide a fund of at least S^ 100,000 
to be invested in bonds and mortgages, on unincumbered real estate, within 
the jurisdiction of this State, and such investment to continue for at least five 
years from the time of such endowment : such real estate to be worth at 
least, by its estimated value, twice the amount of the money so secured there- 
on • and also to provide for such proposed college a suitable lot or lots, with 
a building or buildings erected or to be erected thereon, which shall have 
cost or will cost such founder or founders at least the sum of $30,000 ; or 
which shall reasonably be worth that sum ; and that before any ordinance 
shall be passed by the Regents for a charter to be granted for the incorpo- 
ration of such college, the Regents shall be satisfied that such endowment 
has been fully made, agreeably to the provisions of this ordinance. 

2. That in any case in which it shall otherwise appear to the Regents of 
the University, that the state of literature in any academy is so far advanced, 
that it might be expedient that a president should be appointed for such aca- 
demy, agreeably to the provisions of the seventeenth section of the act afore- 
said ; yet the Regents will not in such case deem the funds of such academy 
sufficient for such purpose, nor will they in any such case signify their ap- 
probation thereof, under their common seal, unless the funds belonging to 
and held by the trustees of such academy for the exclusive use and benefit 
thereof shall be proved satisfactorily to the Regents, to be worth at least 



$130,00U, including the fair value of the real estate, the buildings erected 
thereon, and the funds invested, which may yield a revenue to such aca- 
demy. 

A true copy. 

G. HAWLEY, Sexretarij. 



ACADEMIC BY-LAWS. 
The following extracts from the By-Laws or Statutes of the Albany Academy and of 
the Albany Female Academy, are published for the information of other academies, 
in the belief that they will find some provisions in them worthy of imitation. 

Albamj Academy. 

No student shall be admitted into the classical department, nor be allowed to com- 
mence the study of Latin Grammar, until he can read the English language with fa- 
cility. 

No student shall be admitted into the Academy under the age of six years, nor un- 
less he has been taught to read the English language. 

A book shall be kept by the principal, in which shall be registered the name of every 
student admitted, the date of his admission, the studies he has attended to, and the pe- 
riod of his dismission. 

The hours of study, both in summer and Avinter, shall be regulated by the faculty, 
but at least six hours of every day shall be spent by the teachers with their respective 
classes. 

No student shall be allovvred to study at home during the school hours, unless per- 
mission shall have been granted by the faculty. 

All scholars in the languages, of six month's standing and upwards, shall be daily in- 
structed in arithmetic, and those of a year's standing and upwards, shall, in addition, 
be instructed in either the English language or geography, or both, and a fair portion 
of time shall be allotted to each of the respective studies. Whenever a student has 
advanced as far as the study of Virgil, one-half of the time shall be appropriated to 
the pursuit of studies in other departments. 

The students in the classical department who may require instruction in the other 
departments, shall be admitted into them, in conformity, however, with preceding sta- 
tutes, and shall then be taught with such students as may be engaged in the same 
branches. 

No student in the classical department shall be permitted to use a translation. 

When the higher classes have regularly gone through the common classics, they 
shall at various times, be examined on passages taken promiscuously ; and it shall be 
the duty of the professor of languages, on those occasions, to require from them an 
account of the ancient geography, and history of the places mentioned ; the mythology 
alluded to ; the manners and customs of the countries spoken of; the beauties and de- 
fects of the style; the figures used, and the different kinds of verse employed; and it 
shall also be his province, occasionally, to institute comparisons of the best transla- 
tions, with their originals. 

The professor of languages may, in his discretion, direct the committing to memory 
of select passages from the Greek and Latin writers, which shall be recited before the 
class. 

There shall be, from time to time, in the higher classes in the classical department, 
an examination on the Greek, Latin and English grammar, by way of comparison, 
and upon Dumesnil's Latin Synonyms. 

The instructors shall, on every Friday afternoon, instruct the students in orthogra- 
phy, pronunciation, the correct reading of English prose and verse, and in elocution. 

Of Examinations and Premiums. 

A committee of the board shall be appointed every month, to visit the academy, and 
to exainine the various classes ; and they shall report on whatever may require alte- 
ration, or deserve praise, or censure, in the instruction and government of the institu- 
tion. 

There shall be two public examinations every year — the annual to be held during 
the week immediately preceding the summer vacation, and the semi-annual to be held 
during the last week in February; and such examinations shall be conducted by the 
principal, professors and tutors, in presence of the board, and shall embrace all the 
courses of instruction in the academy. 



48 

Premiums, consisting of books elegantly bound, shall be adjudged by the board, im- 
mediately subsequent to the annual examination, to meritorious students, for excel- 
lence in the respective branches of study, and shall be given as follows: — In a class of 
six, and less than ten, one premium to the best student; in a class often, and less than 
fifteen, two premiums to the first and second best students ; and in a class of fifteen 
and upwards, three premiums, to the first, second and third best students. In the clas- 
sical department, however, in consequence of the smaller number of students consti- 
tuting a class, one premium shall be awarded in a class of four, two in a class of eight 
and three in a class consisting of twelve students. 

Premiums shall be awarded for proficiency in composition, at the semi-annual ex- 
amination, in the following manner : all the students engaged in this branch shall be 
divided into four classes, and premiums shall be given to the first, second and third 
best in each class, in the same manner as is directed for other branches of study. 

At the semi-annual examination, certificates founded on the standing of the students 
during the last six months shall be presented, in precise conformity to the mode pur- 
sued with premiums at the annual examination. 

At the close of every annual and semi-annual examination, certificates of good Con- 
duct and attention to study, shall be presented to every student, who shall be recom- 
mended by the faculty as worthy of the same. 

Admission of Scholars from Common Schools. 

The trustees of the Albany Academy, considering their institution as having been 
endowed out of the corporate property of the city of Albany, and being from that, as 
well as other considerations, desirous to cultivate a more intimate relation with the dis- 
trict schools of the city, and believing that the education, in their academy, of a limit- 
ed number of scholars, to be selected from such schools in reference to, and in reward 
of merit, would tend to establish such a relation, and at the same time promote the 
welfare of those schools, as well as subserve the general cause of popular education 
do therefore, in view of such considerations, unanimously resolve, 

1st. That the trustees of each of the common or district schools, established by law, 
in the city of Albany, may at any time after the publication of these resolutions, se- 
lect from the scholars attending their school, for promotion to the academy, a single 
male scholar, who at the time of such selection shall be of an age not less than twelve 
years, and who shall then have made such proficiency in the ordinary studies of such 
school, as to have obtained a place among its most advanced scholars. Such selection 
or promotion to be made in special reference to, and as a reward of merit, in the scho- 
lar to be so selected, at the tiivie for which such scholar shall be so selected to attend 
said academy, may be during the pleasure of the trustees of such school, or for such 
limited time as they may prescribe, and whenever such time shall expire by its own 
limitation, or by the interference of the said trustees, or whenever the place of such 
scholar, so to be selected, shall become vacant by death, or by refusal or neglect to at- 
tend said academy, another like scholar may as often as such vacancy shall occur, be 
in like manner, for like purpose, and under like restrictions, selected by the trustees of 
such school, for the time being, so that a scholar from each district school may at all 
times be in the academy. 

2d. Whenever any scholar to be selected as provided for in the foregoing resolution, 
shall present to the principal of the academy a certificate in writing, signed by the 
trustees of the district school to which he belongs, stating that he has been so selected 
by them in conformity to, and for the purpose contemplated by these resolutions, and spe- 
cifying whether he had been selected for a limited time, and how long, or during their 
pleasure, such scholar shall on presenting and leaving such certificate with such prin- 
cipal be admitted into said academy, and into such department and class or classes 
therein, as his proficiency shall, on examination be found to entitle him to — and he 
shall enjoy all the benefits and privileges of other students in said academy of similar 
proficiency with himself, without being charged any thing for such admission and tui- 
tion, or for such benefits and privileges — he being at all times subject to the same rules 
and regulations, in all other respects, as the other students of the academy, in the same 
department and class. 



49 

ALBANY FEMALE ACADEMY. 

Bxj-Laivs 
Of the Albany Female Academy, regulating the organization and proceedings of the 
board of trustees, the duties of standing committees, and of all officers of the board, 
other than teachers ; together with various other matters, relating to the temporali- 
ties of the academy. 

Organization and Proceedings of the Board of Trustees. 
Stated meetings of the board shall be held on the last Monday in each month, at such 
hour as the president shall for that purpose appoint. 

Special meetings may at any time be called by the president, or by any three mem- 
bers of the board of trustees. 

Notice of every such meeting, whether stated or special, shall be given by the usUal 
written or printed notices, to be addressed to and served on each trustee ; and if the 
meeting be special, notice thereof shall also be affixed on the door of the academy, as 
required by a provision in the Revised Statutes of the State. 

After providing for the appointment of a president, secretary and treasurer, with 
all other officers proper to be appointed by the trustees, it is further provided that the 
trustees shall also appoint the following standing committees, (viz :) a prudential or 
financial committee, to consist of three members — a committee on teachers and text 
books, to consist also of three members — and three visiting committees, to consist each 
of four members, and to include together all the members of the board, (except the 
president.) 

Of the President. 

The president shall preside at all meetings of the board, if present thereat, and it 
shall be his duty to exercise a general supervision over all the affairs of the institu- 
tion, of whatever kind the same may be — and it is hereby made his special duty at, or 
previous to, every stated meeting of the board, to inquire, ascertain and report to them 
at such meeting, whether all the duties required by these by-laws to be performed by 
any standing committee, or by the treasurer or other officer of the board, shall have 
been performed or not, so far as he knows, or shall have reason to believe ; and in case 
he shall ascertain, or have reason to believe that any such duties shall not have been 
duly performed, he shall specify and report the default, and the person or persons 
chargeable therewith. 

And it is hereby made a standing order of the board, that the president shall at every 
stated meeting, before any other business shall be attended to, except reading the mi- 
nutes of the last previous meeting, make his report on the matters above required of 
him. 

Of the Secretary. 

The secretary shall give, or cause notice to be given to each trustee of all the meet- 
ings of the board. He shall attend all such meetings, keep the minutes of their pro- 
ceedings, and after the same shall have been read and approved at the next subse- 
quent meeting, he shall engross, or cause the same to be engrossed, in a book to be 
provided for that purpose ; such minutes to include all the proceedings of the board 
usual in similar cases to be recorded. And it is hereby specially directed, that the same 
shall include the report of the president required to be made at each stated meeting of 
the board, pursuant to the standing order above made ; also all reports of committees, 
whether standing or special, with all inventories of books and apparatus belonging to 
the academy, and the reports or statements of the treasurer, to be rendered by him 
quarterly as hereinafter specified, together with so much of the annual report of thejaca- 
demy to the Regents of the University as constitutes the part thereof made by the trus- 
tees, and verified by them, being the part previous to the list of students and studies 
made and verified by the principal of the academy. 

The secretary shall give notice to the members of each visiting committee, of the 
month in which it will be their turn to visit the academy — giving the first notice to the 
committee first named in the record of their appointment, and continuing on in regu- 
lar rotation throughout each year. 

The secretary shall also, so long as he shall be the principal of the academy, make 
out, or cause to be made out and sent to the parents or guardians of the several scho- 
lars, during the first week of each quarter, the bills or accounts for tuition during said 
quarter. 

And he shall also during said week, make out, certify and deliver to the treasurer, 
a general statement of all such bills or accounts with the total amount thereof, to en- 
able him to receive payment thereof 

7 



50 

Of the Treasurer. 

The general duty of the treasurer shall consist in receiving all moneys belonging to 
the academy, and paying out the same on account of the salaries of the teachers 
and other debts contracted by the academy, and authorized by the trustees to be paid 
by him. 

It shall also be a part of the treasurer's duties to make out and verify by his affida- 
vit, that part of the trustees" annual report to the Regents of the University, which re- 
lates to the property or financial concerns of the academy : and he shall also annually 
during the first half of the month of in each year, make out and render to 

the chairman of the standing committee of accounts, (known as the prudential com- 
mittee,) a general account or statement in writing of all moneys received and paid by 
him on account of the academy, during the year then ending, together with the vouch- 
ers relied on by him to support the saine ; and all sucirother matters as shall be want- 
ed by the said committee to enable them to take and state the account required of 
them as is hereinafter particularly slated. 

Of the Librarian. 

The principal shall be ex-officio librarian, and as such shall have the special charge 
of all the books and maps belonging to the academy. 

He may make such regulations on the subject of using such books and maps as he 
shall think suitable and proper — but he shall be personally accountable for them, ac- 
cording to an inventory or catalogue thereof, to be taken as hereinafter provided. 

Of Chemical and Philosophical Apparatus. 

The professor or teacher of chemistry in the academy, and in default of any such 
officer, the principal, for the time being, shall ex-officio, have the special custody and 
charge of all the chemical, electrical and philosophical apparatus, with all the speci- 
mens in the cabinet of mineralogy, and the cases containing the same and whatever 
else belongs or relates thereto; and he shall be personally accountable for the same, 
according to an inventory or catalogue thereof, to be taken as hereinafter provided. 

Of the Steward. 

Among the duties of the steward of the academy, is the following : to see that the 
whole academy edifice be kept at all times ventilated in the best practicable manner ; 
and to secure such ventilation, which the trustees consider of the very first impor- 
tance, it is hereby made the special duty of the steward, (until a suitable ventilator 
through the ceiling and roof above the upper hall, shall be constructed,) to lower, or 
cause to be lowered, after the exercise of each day shall be closed, as well in the win- 
ter as in the summer season, an upper sash of one or more of the windows in each of 
the rooms of the academy, which shall have been occupied during the day, and to 
cause the same to be kept so lowered during the summer season, for the whole night, 
except in rainy or other unsuitable weather ; and in other seasons of the year to cause 
the same to be so lowered, for at least an hour each day ; and at all times, when the 
weather will permit, to keep the upper sash of one or more of the windows in the cha- 
pel, down both night and day ; and also to keep, during the day time, in the summer 
season, and whenever the weather will permit, in other seasons of the year, the front 
or outward doors opening into the lower hall, open by fastening the same back, and also 
to keep one of the sashes in the windows of the halls above, either up or down, so as 
to admit the constant entrance of fresh air. 

Of the Prudential Conunittee. 

It shall be the duty of the prudential committee to direct and superintend the mak- 
ing of all necessary repairs to the academy building and grounds appurtenant thereto, 
and to the furniture and apparatus belonging to the trustees, and give orders on the 
treasurer for payment of the expense thereof; but no expense for any other purpose 
shall be incurred by them, nor by any other person, without the previous express or- 
der of the board of trustees. 

It shall also be the duty of the prudential committee, annually, previous to the last 
stated meeting of the board of trustees in the year, to take and state, and at such 
meeting present, an account of all moneys received and paid by the treasurer during 
said year, and since the last account of such moneys taken and stated by them, or their 
predecessors; in which said account they shall charge the treasurer with the whole 
amount of moneys received by him during said period, and credit him with all pay- 
ments shown by proper vouchers to be produced by him, to have been made on account 
of the academy, so far as the same shall have been previously authorized by general, 
or other directions from the board of ti'ustees, or by particular direction from the said 



51 

committee ; and they shall, on taking and stating said account, examine the statement 
or list of tuition bills, to be made out and certified by the principal to the treasurer, 
as herein before provided for, and compare the amount thereof with the amount charg- 
ed to the treasurer, in the account so to be taken and stated by them ; and they shall 
subjoin or annex to the said account a particular statement of all bills for tuition mo- 
ney remaining unpaid, with the names of the persons from whom due, and whether 
due diligence shall have been used to collect the same, and if not, upon whom the de- 
fault shall be chargeable. 

And they shall also in their said account state the whole amount of debts, both prin- 
cipal and interest, then due from the academy, and to whom, and make such other 
statements, explanations and remarks, as shall be necessary to give a just and true ac- 
count of all the pecuniary concerns of the academy. 

It shall be the special duty of the prudential committee to be first appointed under 
these by-laws, to employ, at the expense of the trustees, a suitable person to make, 
under their direction, a full and complete inventory or catalogue of all the books in the 
library, and maps belonging to the academy, and to arrange the same in such order as 
the principal shall direct : and also a like inventory or catalogue of all the articles of 
philosophical, electrical or chemical apparatus, with all the specimens in mineralogy, 
and other like articles belonging to the academy, to be arranged in such order as the 
principal or professor of chemistry shall direct ; and a further like inventory of all arti- 
cles of furniture and other personal property belonging to the academy and not included 
in either of the previous inventories. Of which said several inventories or catalogues, 
two copies shall be made ; one for the use of the principal and professor of chemistry, 
who are accountable for the several articles described therein, as is herein before more 
particularly declared ; and one for the use of the trustees, to be preserved by the trea- 
surer among other papers of the academy. «, 

And at the time of taking and stating any annual account of the pecuniary aflfairs of 
the academy, as herein before provided for, it shall be the special duty of the pruden- 
tial committee, to employ some suitable person, at the expense of the board, to com- 
pare the said several inventories or catalogues with the several articles therein describ- 
ed, and then remaining on hand, in the academy; and to state whether any, and what 
part of the articles so described in said inventories are missing or injured, beyond their 
necessary wear and tear, from ordinary use ; and also whether any and what additions 
to the articles described in said inventories shall have been made since the last previ- 
ous annual report or account ; and the result of all such examinations shall be commu- 
nicated to the boai'd by the said committee, as part of the annual account required to 
be taken by them as aloresaid. 

Of the. Committee on Teachers and Text Books. 
The committee on teachers and text books shall be a standing committee, to whom 
all applications for employment as teachers, and all proposals to introduce new text- 
books, shall be referred, to examine and report them ; and to whom it may also be re- 
ferred to select and recommend proper persons to fill any vacancies among the teach- 
ers, when no applications for such vacancies shall have been presented. 

Of Visiting Committees. 

It shall be the duty of the chairman of each visiting committee, on receiving from the 
principal, notice of the month, when it will be the turn of his committee to visit the 
academy, to appoint a time for such visitation, and inform the members of his commit- 
tee of such time. 

And it shall be the duty of all the members of such committee, to visit the academy 
at the time so to be appointed for that purpose, and to report the fact of such visita- 
tion at the next meeting of the board. 



INSTRUCTIONS FOR METEOROLOGICAL REPORTS. 

At a meeting of the Regents of the University, held pursuant to adjourn- 
ment, in the Senate Chamber, March 1, 1825 — 

It was Resolved, That each of the academies incorporated by this Board 
be furnished with a thermometer and pluviameter, or rain-gage, the expense 
of which shall be paid out of the funds of the Regents : and that the Vice- 



52 

Chancellor, Mr. Lansing, and Mr. Greig, be a committee to provide those 
instruments, and to prescribe the rules for making observations by them, and 
the manner in which the accounts of them shall be kept ; reports of which 
shall be annually made to this Board. 

At a subsequent meeting of said Regents, held on the 12th day of April, 
1825, 

It was further Resolved, That, in addition to the existing regulations to 
entitle the academies to their dividends of the public fund, it will be consi- 
dered necessary that they keep an exact register of observations made with 
the thermometers and rain-gages with which they shall be furnished, ac- 
cording to the instructions that may be given them by the committee appoint- 
ed for that purpose; and that, with their annual reports, they shall give cor- 
rect registers of such observations ; and that the Secretary furnish each of 
the academies with a copy of this resolution. 

A true extract from the minutes of the Regents. 

G.'HAWLEY, Secretary, tS^-c. 

In pursuance of the preceding resolutions, the following rules and instruc- 
tions have been adopted for the direction of the academies of this State, in 
making meteorological observations and the registry thereof, to be annually 
reported to the Regents. 

The Thermomeier must be kept in a situation where there is a free circu- 
lation of air, and where it cannot be affected either by the direct or reflected 
rays of the sun, or by a radiation of heat or cold from neighboring bodies. 
Heat may be reflected or radiated from bare, dry earth, sand, gravel, or 
pavement. The place about it should therefore be covered with grass in its 
season. Heat may be reflected to some distance from walls or other struc- 
tures of a light color : the thermometer should therefore be placed conside- 
rably remote from them. Massy walls slowly imbibe or part with caloric; 
they will, therefore, after sudden changes in the weather, possess, for some 
time, a temperature different from that of the circulating air, and by radiation 
affect the thermometer, if placed near to, or in contact with them ; this must 
therefore be avoided. 

The Rain-gage must be kept remote from all elevated structures, to a 
distance at least equal to their height, and still further off, where it can be 
conveniently done, and be not more than ten feet above the surface of the 
ground. 

In freezing weather, when the rain-gage cannot be used out of doors, it 
may be taken into a room : and, instead of it, a tin vessel should be procur- 
ed for receiving the snow, rain or sleet that may then fall. This vessel must 
have its opening exactly equal to that of the rain-gage, and widen down- 
wards, to a sufficient depth, with a considerable slope. It should be ^placed 
where nothing can obstruct the descending snow from entering it, and where 
no drift snow may be blown into it. During a continued snow-storm, the 
snow may occasionally be pressed down in it. The contents of the vessel 
must, at proper times, be melted over a fire, and the water produced poured 
into the gage, to ascertain its contents, Avhich must then be entered in the 
gage column of the register. 

Observations by ike Thermometer must be made every morning, before 
sunrise, in order to obtain the lowest degree, every afternoon, at 3 P. M. or 
thereabouts, when it shows the highest degree, and every evening, an hour 
after sunset. The lowest degree, or coldest weather, is supposed to occur 
generally between the commencement of dayliglit and sunrise ; and the high- 



5S 

est degree, or warmest weather, between 2 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon 
The" degrees are to be taken from Fahrenheit's scale. 

[The Regents have not, at present, any thermometers to furnish for the 
use of academies. Those heretofore furnished by them were manufactured 
by Mr, Kendall, at New-Lebanon. In case such thermometers cannot be 
obtained, others should be procured, the degrees on which are marked ac- 
cording to Fahrenheit's scale. Accademies not supplied with thermometers 
and rain-gages by the Regents, are not required to make meteorological ob- 
servations.] 

Observations by the rain-gage should not be delayed long after a fall of 
rain, and the amount every half month must be entered in its proper place. 

For the Register, a book of at least tv/enty-four folio pages foolscap size, 
must be procured, of which each left hand page must be ruled into ten per- 
pendicular columns, for the entries of one month. The j^rs^ column for the 
days of the month, to be headed Days ; the second, third, fourth and fifth, 
to have the caption Thermometer ; the second column for the morning ob- 
servations, to be headed Morn ; the third column for the afternoon observa- 
tions, to be headed Aftern. ; the fourth column, for the evening observations, 
to be headed Eveng.; and the fifth column, for the inean temperature, to be 
headed Mean; the sixth and seventh columns to be captioned V/inds, and 
headed A. M. and P. M.; the eighth and nijith columns to be captioned 
Weather, and headed A. M. and P. M.] and the tenth column to be headed 
Rain-gage. 

The Entries opposite to each day of the month, are to be made in the fol- 
lowing manner : For the Thermometer, in the Morn, column, enter the low- 
est degree found in the morning ; in the Aftern. column, enter the highest 
degree found in the afternoon; in the Eveng. column, enter the degree ob- 
served an hour after sunset ; and in the Mean column, enter the mean tem- 
perature of the day, which is thus found : to the morning observation, twice 
the afternoon observation, and twice the evening observation, add the next 
morning's observations, and divide the sum by 6. 

The object of this calculation will be evident when it is recollected that 
we wish to obtain through it the mean temperature of any 24 hours. By 
taking twice the afternoon figure, twice the evening figure, the temperature 
of the morning of the day, and the temperature of the morning of the suc- 
ceeding day, and adding the six together and dividing by six, we have at 
once the elements for obtaining the mean temperature for that given time, 
and also procure the necessary result. 

For the Winds, enter in the A. M. column, N.— NE.— -E.— SE.— S.— 
SW. — W. or N W. according to the prevalence of the wind in the forenoon 
from either of these eight half quarters of the compass. Do the same in the 
P. M. column, for the prevailing winds in the afternoon. 

For the Weather, enter in the A. M. column, Fair or Cloudy, as either 
of these aspects shall prevail in the forenoon. Do the same in the P. M. 
column, for the weather of the afternoon. When rain or snow falls, or both 
together, instead of cloudy, enter Rain, snoiv or R. Sc S. for rain and snow. 

For the Rain-gage, enter the inches, tenths and hundreds shown by the 
scale, immediately before the water is drawn off^ which is to be done until 
or Zero stands level with the upper edge of the bar across the funnel of 
the gage. 



54 

The right hand pages are to be appropriated to observations on vegetation 
and also such miscellaneous remarks as may be considered interesting; such 
as thunder and lightning, hail-storms, tornadoes or hurricanes, destructive 
floods, uncommon meteors, white or hoarfrost, the first appearance of barn 
swallows in the spring, and occasionally the depth of snow on the ground 
and its disappearance, &c. The observations on the PhenoviPMa of Vege- 
tation, are to be directed to the time when the white or red currants blos- 
som, when the Shadbush or Juneberry* and the Dogwood trees, in their na- 
tural situation, and the Peach, Pear and Apple trees, in open fields are in 
bloom ; that is, when at least one-half of the blossoms are fully expanded. 
When the flowers, called ayncnts or catkins of the Whiie-oak the Chesnut, 
the Black-birchf and the Aspcn^ begin to drop. When ripe field Straw- 
berries first appear in any quantity. When the Wheat harvest commences. 
When the last killing Jj-ost occurs in the spring, observed on tender buds, 
young leaves, or the germs of fruit trees or other vegetables ; and the first 
killing frost in the fall of the year, noticed by its destroying tender plants, 
such as the vines of cucumbers, melons and beans. 

At the end of the 14th of February, and the 15th of ev^ery other month, 
add together the numbers in the column of mean temperature, divide the 
sum by the number of days, and set down the quotient underneath, for the 
mean oi the first half of the month. Do the same for the other days, at the 
end of the month, and set down the quotient at the bottom of the column, for 
the mean of the second half of the month; add this to the first mean, and di- 
vide the sum by 2, for the mean of the whole month ; which enter accord- 
ingly- 

Cciunt the number of times that each point of the compass appears in the 

A. M. and P. M. columns, under the caption of Winds, and the half thereof 
must be considered as the whole number of days on which that wind has 
prevailed during the month ; and enter in a convenient place the nnmber of 
days thus found, on which the wind has prevailed from each of the eight 
half quarters of the compass. 

Do the same with the entries of fair and cloudy, under the caption of 
Weather, counting the entries of snow and rain among the cloudy. To these 
subjoin the number of days on which it has rained or snowed, counted in the 
same manner, and the quantity shown by the gage; also, the warmest and 
coldest days shown by the mean, the highest and lowest degree of the ther- 
mometer, and the prevailing wind of the month. 

The annual reports are to be made according to the form annexed. 

It is desirable that the location of each academy be described by bearings 
and distances from some of the bounds of the town in which it is situated, for 
the purpose of having its latitude and longitude correctly determined. 

It is also very important to know the elevation of every academy in which 
observations are made. For this purpose, the observer should state its height 

* Called Blespilus Canadensis, by Linneus — Mespilus nivea, by Marshall, in his Arbustrum 
Americanum — Mesjnlus arborea, by Michaux. and Arotna botryapium, by Persoon and Wilde- 
now. In tins State it is commonly called Shad-bloiv or Shad-bush. Michaux says, that in the 
northern section of the Union it is called ^Vild jtear-tree, and in the middle Stales, Juneberry, 
and that, " with the exception of the maritime parts of the Carolinas and Georgia, this tree 
is spread over the whole extent of the United States." On this account, and also on account 
of its being one of our earliest flowering forest trees, and the conspicuous manner ni which it 
displays its snow-white blossoms when the foliage of the woods has yet scarcely made its ap- 
pearance, this tree is peculiarly deserving of a place among those which are selected for obser- 
vations. 

t Betula lenta—Tlws tree is every where known by the name of Black Birch. It is also 
called Mountain Mahogany in Virginia, Sweet Birch and Cherry Birch in Connecticut, Massa- 
setts, and farther north. In Canada it is universally called Cheri-y Birch. — Michaux. 

X Populus Tremuloides. — Trembling Poplar or American Aspen. 



55 

with reference to some point ascertained during the numerous canal and road 
surveys made in this State during the last few years. There is no academy 
reporting, which is more than three or four miles, either from tide-water or 
from known elevations obtained as above. 

The temperature of wells should also be ascertained, both in winter and 
summer. Let the depth to which the thermometer is sunk, be stated. 

S. DE WITT, Vice-chancellor, CKn. 

N. B. The number of days on which rains or snows, or both, should be 
carried out — and this whether it rains or snows for an hour or the whole 
day. The object is, to ascertain on how many days it rained or snowed. 
The quantity is obtained by the rain gage. 

The above instructions for meteorological observations were given in l825. 
Since then, and during 1833, a new rain gage has been adopted, called the 
Conical Rain Gage, for using which, the following instructions have been 
prepared by the Chancellor of the University. 

Conical Rain Gage. 

The Regents of the University have resolved that each of the academies 
subject to their visitation be furnished with a Conical Kain Gage, and di- 
rected that observations be made with them ; the observations with those 
heretofore furnished, to be at the same time continued in the usual manner, 
and that the results of both be given in the next annual reports, in order that 
their comparative accuracy may be ascertained: and if it prove to be such 
as is anticipated, it is intended to prescribe the use, thereafter, of the conical 
gages only ; for the management of which, observe the following 

Directions. 

For the fixture of the gage, have a board made in this form, which nail to 
the top of a post about eight feet high. The cir- 
cular opening is to be five inches diameter, and 
bevelled so as to fit the side of the gage. In this 
the gage is to be suspended ; and the cap, with its 
base downwards, pressed into it- However close- 
ly it may fit by being thus pressed down, sufficient room will be left between 
it and the sides of the gage, to permit the water to pass to its bottom: 

Immediately after every shower, or fall of rain, the water must be mea- 
sured and the contents registered, and then discharged. On this will depend 
the accuracy of the account ; for, from the construction of the gage, the de- 
grees of the scale near its bottom being the largest, small quantities may be 
measured with greater accuracy by this than by the gages commonly used. 
The cap is intended to prevent evaporation before the measurement is made, 
should that be accidentally delayed. The measurement is made by putting 
down to the bottom of the gage, the point of the measuring stick, and apply- 
ing the distance between it and the water mark to the scale. 

The graduation of the scale is by hundredths of an inch for the first three- 
tenths of an inch, and above that by tenths and half tenths. The intermedi- 
ate distances may be measured by the eye, and set down in decimals. 

When showers, or rains of short duration, fall, it will be Avell to note the 
A. M. and P. M. with the hours between the beginning and ending, prefix- 
ed ; in order that the time may be compared with that of observations made 
at other places. 

If a rain continues for any length of time, the observations should be made 
at suitable intervals, before the water rises in the gage. 

It is important that the measure be taken without delay after every fall 




56 

of rain, as experience has proved that the water in the gage will soon be- 
come diminished by its rising along the inside of the gage, by capillary at- 
traction, and then become dissipated by evaporation. 

The usual precaution must be observed in giving the rain gage such a 
position as that nothing may obstruct the rain, in its most oblique direction, 
from entering it, and no sediment must be suffered to remain in it. 

A decription of the Conical Raiyi Gage, and the principles of its construc- 
tion, is given in Silliman's American Journal oj Science and Arts, for April, 
May and June, 1832. 

SIMEON DE WITT, 

Chancellor of the University. 

May 15, 1833. 

The president, secretary, or treasurer of each academy to the trustees of 
which this circular shall be addressed, who are not already supplied with 
the above mentioned rain gages, will please send for one, by an order ad- 
dressed to the Secretary of the Regents, Albany. 

Simultaneous observations, with the old and new rain gage, must be con- 
tinued, as a sufficient number have not been reported to answer the intended 
purpose of the Regents ; and it is hoped that a greater attention will be paid 
to this subject this year, than has been evinced during the last. From the 
reports that have been made, it appears that there has been too great a re- 
missness or carelessness on the part of some of the observers. 

The form of registering meteorological observations must be as follows: 

On the first or title page of the meteorological reports, a certificate must 
be made and signed by the principal of the academy, or, in his absence, by 
some one of the teachers or trustees, stating by whom the observations have 
been made, (whether by a teacher of the academy, or how otherwise,) and 
his opinion of their correctness, &c. 

The whole title page should be in the following form: 

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 

FOR THE YEAR 183 

MADE UNDER THE DIRECTIONS OF THE 

REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF 
NEW-YORK, 



Academy, 

SITUATED IN THE TOWN OF IN THE COUNT y OF 

Latitude Longitude 

/, A. B. of said Academy, do hereby certify, 

that according to the best of my knoioledgc and belief all and singular the 
meteorological observations, as registered in the folloioing tables, have been 
correctly made, and truly registered, by 

(Signed,) A. B. 

Each month in the year, commencing always with the month of January, 
and ending with the month of December, should have a whole page in the 
Journal, set apart for a table of registry, in the following form, which must 
be literally followed : 



57 



JAN. 


THERMOMETER. 


1 

WINDS. 


WEATHER. 


RAIN. 


Days. 


Morn. 


After. 


Even. 


Mean. 


A.M. 


P. M. 


A.M. 


P. M. 


Gage. 


1 


35 


40 


30 


32.83^ 


W 


NW 


fair 


fair 




2 


22 


39 


37 


35. 


\V 


S 


fair 


fair 




3 


36 


49 


40 


41.83 


S 


SW 


cloudy- 


cloudy 




4 


37 


45 


36 


36.83 


w 


NW 


fair 


fair 




5 


22 


42 


35 


34.66 


NVV 


SW 


fair 


fair 




6 


32 


40 


36 


36.33 


NW 


N 


cloudy 


cloudy 




7 


34 


36 


28 


32.5 


W 


W 


snow 


cloudy 




8 


23 


35 


25 


27,16 


svv 


W 


fair 


fair 




9 


20 


30 


24 


24.66 


sw 


SW 


fair 


fair 




10 


20 


30 


22 


23.66 


svv 


SW 


fair 


fair 




11 


18 


25 


26 


24.66 


N 


NE 


cloudy 


snow 




12 


28 


43 


32 


34.16 


SW 


w 


fair 


fair 




13 


27 


36 


30 


30.83 


NW 


NW 


fair 


fair 




14 


26 


38 


35 


34.16 


SE 


E 


cloudy 


rain 




15 


33 


38 


30 


32.66 


S 


SW 


cloudy 


cloudy 


0.42 


First 


half mon 


th, 




32.13 










0,42 



16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
Feb. 1 



\ 27 


34 


29 


29.83 


SE 


SE 


cloudy 


cloudy 


26 


29 


26 


26.66 


N 


NE 


cloudy 


snow 


24 


34 


28 


28.83 


SW 


SW 


cloudy 


fair 


25 


28 


20 


22.44 


NW 


NW 


cloudy 


fair 


15 


22 


19 


18.83 


N 


N 


cloudy 


snow 


16 


25 


8 


12.33 


NW 


NW 


fair 


fair 


— 8 


25 


20 


16.30 


SW 


SW 


cloudy 


cloudy 


16 


36 


30 


29.33 


SW 


s 


fair 


fair 


28 


35 


22 


25.83 


NW 


NW 


cloudy 


fair 


13 


19 


16 


16.33 


N 


N 


cloudy 


S«feR 


15 


26 


14 


16.33 


N 


W 


cloudy 


fair 


3 


25 


19 


17.66 


NE 


s 


cloudy 


fair 


15 


40 


25 


24.66 


SW 


w 


cloudy 


lair 


3 


22 


8 


9.66 


SW 


w 


fair 


fair 


— 5 


18 


4 


4.83 


NW 


w 


fair 


fair 


—10 
5 


20 


12 


9.83 


SW 


SW 


fair 


fair 



0.35 



1.13 



Second half month 



19,36 



Monthly mean, 



27.75 



1.48 



1,90 



WINDS. N, 4 days; NE, li; E, i; SE, IJ; S, 24: SW, 9; W, 5; NW, 7. 
WEATHER. Fair, 17days; cloudy, 14; rain, ]; snow, 4; snow and rain, 1. 
PREVAILING WIND, SW, RAIN GAGE, 1,90, 
Warmest day, 3d; coldest 30th. Highest degree, 49; lowest, 10. 

Annual abstracts should be made out at the end of the monthly tables, and 
returned with those tables to the Regents, in the following form : 



58 



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59 

NOTE BY THE SECRETARY OF THE REGENTS. 

Common Rain Gage. — In explanation of the principles on which the rain 
gage is constructed, and in answer to various inquiries which have been 
made on the subject, it is proper to observe, that the area of the funnel at 
the top of the cylinder, in its widest part, being eight times the area of the 
cylinder below, one inch in depth of rain falling in the open air, and re- 
ceived through the widest part of the funnel, will fill eight inches in depth 
of the cylinder ; and, consequently, the moveable rod in the cylinder, being 
attached to a hollow, floating bulb, will be raised eight inches above the 
cross-bar at the top of the funnel. This space of eight inches is divided 
into 100 equal parts, or small divisions, so that each part or division above 
the cross-bar will indicate the one-hundredth part of an inch of rain fallen ; 
and 100 of those parts or divisions, covering eight inches on the rod, will 
indicate one inch of rain fallen, and must be registered accordingly. 

Fair and cloudy days. — This column should be kept totally distinct from 
that of rain, snow, &c. State first, the number of fair and cloudy days in 
each month ; then the number of days on tvhich rain has fallen, and the same 
as to snoAV, or rain and snow. It is not expected that the number of hours 
during w^iich rain, &c. fell, shall be summed up, to make up days and frac- 
tions of days. It is the number of days on which it fell, no matter whether 
on one it rained only 15 minutes, and on the others, during 24 hours. 

Time embraced in the report. — The report must embrace one whole year, 
commencing with the 1st of January, and ending with the 31st of Decem- 
ber, but not commencing or ending on any other days. Without observing 
this regulation, the results of observations at different academies cannot be 
compared with each other ; and as such a comparison is one of the lead- 
ing object proposed by the Regents, uniformity in this respect must be in- 
sisted on. 

Form of the report. — As it is inconvenient to furnish all the academies 
with blank forms for meteorological reports, it will be expected that such re- 
ports be hereafter made in manuscript. The reports are to be bound in vo- 
lumes, those for a single year making one volume. In order to have the 
several volumes, and the several parts of each volume, uniform, the paper 
used for the reports should be uniform as to its dimensions. That heretofore 
used has been common foolscap, making, Avhen bound into a volume and 
trimmed, a leaf of about 13 by 8 inches : let that be the standard for all sub- 
sequent reports. 

Academies not yet supplied with the new or conical rain gages, must send 
for them, and not wait, as some have done, for the gages to be sent to them. 
The person sent must be one of the trustees or officers of the academy, or 
he must have an order from the president, secretary, or treasurer of the trus- 
tees, so that he may give a receipt, &c. 

GIDEON HAWLEY, 

Albany, March, 1834. Secretary, <^c. 



VARIATION OF THE MAGNETIC NEEDLE. 

At a meeting of the Regents of the University of the State of New- York, 
held pursuant to adjournment, in the Senate Chamber, March 20th, 1832, 
On motion of Mr. Dix, it was 
Resolved, That so much of the annual report for the year 1832, of the 

trustees of Geneva college, as relates to the expediency of adopting a course 



60 

of experiments upon the variations of the magnetic needle, be referred to a 
select committee. 

The Chancellor and Mr. Dix and Mr. Bleecker were appointed such com- 
mittee. 

At a meeting of the Regents of the University, held pursuant to adjourn- 
ment, in the office of the Clerk of the Senate, March 28, 1832, 

Mr. Bleecker, from the committee to whom was referred so much of the 
annual report for 1832 of the trustees of Geneva college as relates to the ex- 
pediency of adopting a course of experiments upon the variations of the 
magnetic needle, reported: 

That it is very desirable that observations should be annually made on the 
variation of the needle, inasmuch as the boundaries of lands are usually de- 
scribed according to the courses indicated by the needle, and there are no 
rules by which its variation can be ascertained, for any interval of time, ac- 
cording to which such bounds can be retraced, where the land-marks have 
been obliterated. But as the Regents are not invested with the power of en- 
joining the making of such observations on the colleges and academies placed 
under their supervision, the committee are of opinion that it ought to be re- 
commended to them to institute courses of such observations, and make an- 
nual reports thereof to the Regents, and that a committee be appointed to 
address the trustees of the colleges and academies in this State on this sub- 
ject, stating their opinion of the manner in which, for the sake of accuracy 
and uniformity, the observations ought to be miade. 

Which, having been read and considered, was accepted, and the same 
committee who made said report were constituted a committee for the pur- 
poses therein mentioned. 

A true extract from the minutes of the Regents. 

GIDEON HAWLEY, Secretary. 

In compliance with these resolutions, the committee to whom the subject 
thereof had been referred, addressed circulars to the colleges and academies, 
recommending to them a co-operation with the views of the Regents, im- 
pressing on them the importance thereof, and prescribing the rules for domg 
it; the most essential of which is the following, which was recommended as 
that most commonly used by astronomers to establish a true meridian, and 
is now again recommended as preferable to any other. 

Take from the nautical almanac the north polar distance of the pole star. 

Find the latitude of the place on the map of the State, if it has not been 
otherwise ascertained. 

From these data, calculate the greatest azimuth of the pole star by this 
formula : 

"As the cosine of the latitude is to radius, so is the sine of the north polar 
distance of the pole star to the sine of its azimuth." 

Ascertain the direction of this azimuth line, which can be most conveni- 
ently done in the latter part of September or the beginning of October, for 
then the pole star will appear in its proper place, soon after it is visible in 
the evening. This is most accurately done with a good transit instrument, 
but where that is wanting the following method is recommended: 

Suspend a plnmb line from as high a fixture as can be procured, with a 
heavy weight fastened to its lower end, and immersed in a vessel of water 
to steady it. A pole or piece of timber, projected from the second or third 
story of a house, may be used for the suspension of the plumb line ; or it 
may be suspended from a corner of the roof of a house, allowing a clear 



61 

view from it for several degrees to the east of north. To the south of this 
plumb line, distant from it not more than four-fifths of its length, plant two 
posts, four feet high, and eight, ten or twelve feet apart from each other, in 
a line transverse to the meridian. To these fasten a board or plank horizon- 
tally. When the time of observation approaches, keep a nail with its point 
on the edge of the board, in a range with the plumb line and the star, and 
when the star ceases its apparent movement to the east, fasten the nail to the 
board. The range of the nail with the plumb line will then be the azimuth 
line of the pole star in its greatest eastern elongation. 

The north polar distance of the pole star for the beginning of this year 
(1834) is 1° 34' 34", which is diminished at the rate of nearly 20 seconds 
a year. In September next it will be, to the nearest minute, 1° 34'. From 
which, for the purpose of relieving observers from calculations, the follow- 
ing have been made of the greatest azimuth of the pole star, in next Sep- 
tember, within the latitudes of our State. In the latitude of 40° it will be 2° 
03', to'the nearest minute, to which is to be added one minute for every half 
degree of a higher latitude. Such are the calculated azimuths now, and 
they may be used for some years hence, without any important error in the 
results respecting the object in view. To make meridians for observatories 
would require a greater attention to minutiae. 

From the line of the observed azimuth, made in the manner before direct- 
ed, an oiTset must be made, calculated from the azimuth angle, thus found, 
to the point through which the true meridian is to be drawn, at the extreme 
ends of which permanent monuments must be placed, from one of which ob- 
serve the magnetic meridian to a point opposite to the other, and measure the 
distance between them. From this calculate the angle between the true and 
the magnetic meridians. 

As an example, the following is given, of the manner in which a meridian 
line has been established at Ithaca, in September last. From the corner of 
a brick building the azimuth line was ascertained, by observations made for 
two or three successive evenings, by a transit instrument, and from it an off- 
set was made to the true meridian, calculated from the azmiuth angle of 2° 
09' ; through the point of this offset the true meridian was then drawn, from 
the place of observation, to the distance of 1,568 feet, where a stone monu- 
ment was placed. With a compass then set, at the place of observation, the 
magnetic meridian was observed to a point opposite to this monument, and 

the distance between them measured, which was found to be 78, 3 feet. 

From this and the 1,568 feet between the extreme ends of the meridian line, 
the difference was found, by trigonomical calculation, to be 20° 51', as the 
variation of the needle at Ithaca; fractions of a minute bemg rejected as un- 
necessary. 

Where meridian lines have been drawn from observations, however care- 
fully made, it is recommended to have them re-examined by the prescribed 
rules ; for the requisite correctness can not be expected from a single obser- 
vation, nor ought a iew additional ones to be relied on for perfect accuracy. 

When a plumb line is used, a light must be thrown on it, to render it visi- 
ble, and a lantern advanced to the further end of the line of observation, to 
serve as an object, and to mark the spot where it terminates. 

To ascertain the fact that there is nothing about the place, by which the 
needle may be attracted, the compass must be set at different points on the 
meridian, in order to see that its bearings are uniform. 

In the circular of last year an alternative v^^as mentioned, as the means 
of establishing a true meridian, which was by the direction of the stars 



62 

Alioth and Gamma Cassiopeiae, when vertical ; but this method is not so 
much to be relied on as that which has before been recommended, because 
of the difficulty of observing stars so far apart from each other, and the 
great altitude of one of them: and since they move in opposite directions, 
because of the rapidity with which they will cross the same vertical line ; 
whereas the apparent motion of the pole star, to the east or west, when near 
its greatest azimuth, will for some time be imperceptible, thereby affording 
some leisure for ensuring the correctness of the observation. 

The meridian line having been thus accurately and permanently fixed, 
(and this ought to be considered as an indispensable appendage to every col- 
lege and academy,) observations should be made on it at least once in every 
year, in order to ascertain the difference between it and the magnetic meri- 
dian. For the sake of uniformity, let this be done in October. 

These observations should be made early in the morning, for it is well 
known that the variation of the needle will be increased, sometimes to the 
amount of 15 minutes, between sunrise and the middle of the afternoon, and 
that it will, before the next morning, return to its mean direction. 

Much useful information may be obtained by examining well marked lines 
of various ages, and comparing their present with their original magnetic 
bearings. 

The main object in making these observations being to ascertain the an- 
nual changes in the direction of the needle, it is important that the same 
compass be used at the same place, and that no other be substituted without 
comparing them with great care, and noticing the difference, if any be ob- 
servable. Three compasses, considered as good, were set on the meridian 
at Ithaca, and no two of them Avere found to agree by several minutes. It 
would be Avell to try several on every meridian, and select, as the standard 
to be used, the one that may be considered the best. Where this is done, it 
ought to be noticed in the annual reports. 

The circular of last year on this subject concludes with the following re- 
marks, which are now repeated, and urged with increased earnestness: 

" In regard to the subject now presented to your notice, the Regents claim 
no mandatory authority, especially over colleges ; it therefore comes to you 
as a recommendation, that you will co-operate with those who preside over 
other institutions, for carrying into effect a measure deemed important for the 
promotion of science, and which may be considered of still greater impor- 
tance in matters touching conflicting claims between individuals of our State. 
It is therefore hoped that, impressed with a due sense of the general purpo- 
ses for which the institution over which you preside has been created, this 
representation, made on behalf of the Regents, may not be disregarded, and 
that hereafter they may be furnished by the colleges and academies, in their 
annual reports, with observations made by them on the direction of the mag- 
netic needle compared with that of the true meridian, and that a detailed ac- 
count be given by each, of the manner in which its meridian line has been 
established." 

To such institutions as are not provided with good compasses, those made 
by Mr. Hanks, of Troy, having a vernier appended to one end of the needle, 
are recommended as the best that can now be procured. 

S. DE WITT, Chancellor, 



DEPARTMENTS FOR COMMON SCHOOL TEACHERS. 

Ordinance of the Regents of the University for the establishment of depart- 
ments for the education of teachers of common schools in certain Acade- 
mies selected by them for that purpose. 

At a meeting of the Regents of the University, held pursuant to adjourn- 
ment, on the 20th day of January, 1835. 

The Regents having resumed the consideration of the report, presented at 
their last meeting by Mr. Dix, relative to the education of common school 
teachers; and after some time spent thereon, the report having been accept- 
ed, it was thereupon resolved. 

That the Board do concur with the committee in the general vievvs and 
considerations presented by them in their report: That the Regents, duly 
appreciating the great magnitude and value of the object, contemplated by 
the Legislature in appropriating part of the income of the Literature Fund 
for the education of common school teachers, will, so far as the limited 
means under their control will enable them, co-operate in promoting so great 
and valuable an object. That considering the plan, presented by the com- 
mittee in their report, proposing the establishment of a department for the 
education of teachers of common schools, in some one academy in each Se- 
nate district of the State, as the best and most feasible that, under existing 
circumstances, can be devised, this Board do therefore adopt said plan, and 
will cause the same to be carried into execution with all convenient speed ; 
and to that end, the Regents, moved by the considerations aforesaid, do 

Ordain and Declare, 

1st. That in some one of the academies subject to the visitation of the Re- 
gents of the University, in each of the eight Senate districts in this State, a 
department for the education of teachers of common schools be established, 
on the foundation, and in the manner particularly defined and set forth in 
the report of the committee above referred to ; and that for the establishment, 
or first organization of said departments, there be appropriated out of the 
moneys belonging to the Literature Fund, now in the treasury of the State, 
the sum of $4,000 ; and out of the annual income of said fund, the sum of 
$3,200 for the annual support of said departments, to be paid on the condi- 
tions hereinafter particularly set forth, and to be expended for the purposes, 
and in the manner, proposed by the committee in their said report. 

2cl. That until otherwise directed by the Regents, the departments con- 
templated by the foregoing section of this ordinance, shall be established in 
the following named academies, viz: 

For the 1st District,* Erasmus Hall Academy, Kings county. 

Orange county. 
Columbia county. 
St. Lawrence county. 
Herkimer county. 
Chenango county. 
Ontario county. 
Genesee county. 

Provided that the trustees of said academies shall, on receiving ofHcial no- 

* In 1836, Washington academy, at Salem, Washington county, was substituted in place 
of this; which had previously resigned the trust to the Regents. 



do 


2d 


do 


Montgomery 


do 


do 


3d 


do 


Kinderhook 


do 


do 


4th 


do 


St. Lawrence 


do 


do 


5th 


do 


Fairfield 


do 


do 


6th 


do 


Oxford 


do 


do 


7th 


do 


Canandaigua 


do 


do 


8th 


do 


Middlebury, 


do 



64 

tice of this ordinance, together with a copy of the report above referred to, 
signify to us, by a resolution to be adopted at a regular or special meeting 
of their board for that purpose held, and to be certified by their president 
and secretary under their corporate seal, their consent that such departments 
be established in their respective institutions for the purposes aforesaid; and 
their express agreement, in consideration of the appropriation or endowment 
to be made for them as aforesaid, to institute and conduct such departments 
on the foundation, and in the manner, particularly defined and set forth in 
the said report ; and to observe, execute and fulfd, all such orders, rules and 
regulations as the Regents may from time to time ordain or prescribe in re- 
lation thereto. 

3d. That Avhenever a certified copy of the resolution, required by the last 
preceding section of this ordinance, shall be received by the secretary of the 
University, and duly filed in his office, the trustees of each of the said aca- 
demies, adopting and transmitting such resolutions as aforesaid, shall be en- 
titled to receiv^e out of the moneys belonging to the Literature fund, now in 
the State treasury, their proportional part of the $4,000 appropriated by the 
first section of this ordinance for the purposes therein mentioned, to be ex- 
pended by them for said purposes; such proportional part to be hereafter de- 
termined by the Regents, according to the relative wants and circumstances 
of said academies, to be ascertained from a comparison of the reports about 
to be made by them, in obedience to a resolution of the Regents heretofore 
adopted for that purpose ; and the said trustees shall also be entitled to re- 
ceive at the same time, the further sum of $400, out of the annual income 
of said fund, to be applied to the support (for the first year) of the depart- 
ments about to be established by them as aforesaid ; and annually thereafter, 
(until otherwise directed by the Regents,) the said trustees, after first mak- 
ing the annual report hereinafter required of them, shall be entitled to re- 
ceive out of the income of said fund, the like sum of $400, for the like pur- 
poses aforesaid, to be apportioned and paid to them in the manner particu- 
larly provided for in the next following section of this ordinance. 

4th. Whenever the trustees of the several academies, designated, or to be 
designated for the purpose contemplated by this ordinance, shall have fulfil- 
led the conditions on which they are herein declared to be entitled to the spe- 
cial endowments made, or provided for them as aforesaid, and the amount 
thereof shall be ascertained in the manner required by the last preceding 
section of this ordinance, it shall be the duty of the Chancellor and Secreta- 
ry of the University, to certify to the Comptroller of the State, the amount 
which said academies shall respectively be entitled to receive out of the in- 
come of said fund, to the end that the Comptroller may have the requisite 
evidence of their right thereto, to warrant the payment thereof And annu- 
ally thereafter, whenever a general apportionment of the income of said fund 
shall be made among the academies entitled thereto, a special apportionment 
of the said $3,200 shall be made among the academies designated or to be 
designated by the Regents, as entitled thereto, and the same shall be certifi- 
ed to the Comptroller, and be thereupon payable at the same time, and in the 
same manner, as is, or shall be, provided in respect to the said general ap- 
portionment. 

5th. The trustees of the several academies designated, or to be designat- 
ed, for the purposes aforesaid, shall, together with the annual report, alrea- 
dy required to be made by them to the Regents of the University, present a 
full and detailed statement or report of the progress and condition of the de- 
partment for the education of teachers of common schools, to be established 



65 

by them as aforesaid, according to such form as shall be prescribed by the 
Secretary of the University, by instructions to be for that purpose prepared 
by him in accordance with the provisions contained in the report of the com- 
mittee above referred to. 

6lh. That the Secretary cause the report of said committee, together with 
this ordinance, to be printed, and copies thereof, with such instructions as 
are above required to be prepared by him, to be sent to the trustees of all the 
academies in the State subject to the visitation of the Regents of the Univer- 
sity ; and further, that a copy of said report, ordinance and instructions, 
be transmitted by the Regents to the Legislature, as part of their annual re- 
port. 

A true extract from the minutes of the Regents of the University. 

GIDEON HAWLEY, Secretary. 

Albany, January, 1835. 



INSTRUCTIONS, &c. 

The Secretary of the University, in compliance with a provision contain- 
ed in the preceding ordinance, requiring him to prepare suitable forms 
for the academic reports therein mentioned, submits the following instruc- 
tions ; 

The trustees of the several academies, in which departments for the edu- 
cation of teachers of common schools shall be established, will, as heretofore, 
be required to make the same general anuual reports to the Regents of the 
University, as other academies are required to make, in respect to all mat- 
ters not relating specially to the department for common school teachers. In 
respect to such matters, they being entitled to the same distributive shares of 
the income of the Literature fund, as other academies, must for that reason, 
comply with the same regulations. But in addition to their general report, 
they will be required to make a special report on the-progress and condition 
of the department for the education of common school teachers established 
in their academies. Such special report should contain all the matters enu- 
merated, or suggested, by the committee of the Regents in their report here- 
with published. But it should not contain what is embraced in the general 
report, as that would be doubling, what ought to appear single. And in or- 
der to show that the matter of one report is not blended M'ith similar matter 
in the other, the several parts of the general report relating to money re- 
ceived from the Regents ; to the subjects of study pursued in the academy; 
to the class or text books used in it ; and to the number of students taught, 
Sfc. ought to be qualified with a clause, excepting from those parts what re- 
lates to the department for common school teachers. Take for example the 
subjects of study which for a separate head in the general report ; the state- 
ment under that head should be in the following form : 

The subjects of study taught in the academy during said year except what 
were taught in the department, or to scholars belonging to the department 
for common school teachers, were as follows : 

And so with other parts of the report, that whatever belongs to the depart- 
ment for common school teachers, or relates specially to students in that de- 
partment, may be exhibited separately, to enable the Regents to have a cor- 
rect view of its actual condition. It is not, however, to be inferred, from any 
thing here said, that students belonging to the department for common school 
teachers, are to be kept or taught separately by themselves. On the con- 

9 



66 

trary, it will be seen from the report of the committee of the Regents, that 
a promiscuous union of such students with others in the academy, in all 
pursuits or exercises common to both classes, is expressly recommended by 
them. The separation above mentioned as necessary to be observed, relates 
only to the form of the academic report, not to the mode of study in the aca- 
demy. 

The special report on the department for common school teachers may be 
in the following form : 

To the Regents of the University of the State of New-York. 

The trustees of academy, in addition to their general or annual 

report herewith transmitted, submit the following special report, on the pro- 
gress and condition of the department for the education of common school 
teachers established in their institution. 

1st. Organization of the Department. 

Under this head state what amount of money was received from the Re- 
gents, and when, for the first endowment of the. department ; how it has been 
expended, with a specification (in a schedule or inventory to be annexed,) 
of the several articles of apparatus, books, &c., purchased with it, whether 
the same are still on hand, and in what condition. Also, under this head 
should be stated what teachers, if any, have been employed on account of 
the department, what compensation is paid or allowed to them annually, and 
what the whole annual expense incurred on account of the department is; 
that is to say, the expense, as estimated by the trustees, over and above what 
would have been incurred, if no such department had been established ; also, 
the amount, if any, received or charged during the last year for tuition of 
students belonging to the department, and particularly on what ground such 
charge has been made ; how it differs from the tuition charge to other stu- 
dents, and what the views of the trustees are in respect to charging for tui- 
tion of students in the department. 

Under this head, also, should be stated what examination applicants for 
admission into the department are subjected to ; what evidence is required 
from them of their intention to become teachers of common schools ; whe- 
ther the course of study, discipline and exercises prescribed for them by the 
Reo-ents, (as the same is particularly defined and set forth in the report here- 
tofore published,) be strictly pursued by such students, and if not so pursued, 
wherein and for what cause there is a departure from it; also, such general 
or particular views as the trustees may have to present, in relation to any 
defects discovered by them in the organization of the department, and how 
the same may best be remedied ; together with such other matters relating 
to organization, as they may have to submit or suggest. 

2d. Subjects of Study pursued, and Class or Text Books used. 
Under this head, should be stated in one column, overy subject of study 
taught in the department, and opposite to it, in another column, the text or 
class books used for teaching it; where there are several editions of the same 
book, the one used should be particularly stated, and if the cost of each book 
should be added, in another column, it would afTord useful information to 
those who are preparing to enter the department. 

3d. Number and Classification of Students. 
The whole number of students belonging to the department on the 

day of (state the day to which the general report relates,) 
was • 60 



Jfe 



67 

Of which number there have been connected with the department for a 

period not exceeding one quarter or term of the academy, 20 

For a period exceeding one, but not exceeding two terms, 10 

For a " " two " " three terms, 5 

For a " " three " " four terms, 8 

And so on, until all the students in the department are classified, accord- 
ing to the length of time spent in it. 

A true list or catalogue of the names, ages, places of residence, and studies 
of the several students belonging to the department, is hereunto annexed, and 
verified by the oath of the principal of the academy. 

In making out the list or catalogue above referred to, the form of a simi- 
lar catalogue prescribed for the general academic report, by instructions 
from the Secretary of the University, herewith published, will be a sufficient 
guide, after adding to that form a new column for the places of residence, 
(both town and county,) of the students named, &c. ; and after substituting 
the following caption in lieu of the one there given, viz: 

The following is a true list or catalogue of the names, places of residence, 
ages, and studies of the several students belonging now, or at any time dur- 
ing the past year, to the department for the education of teachers of common 
schools established in this academy, with a specification of the different stu- 
dies pursued by each of said students, and the length of time the same were 
pursued in each quarter or term of said year, designating said studies by the 
ordinary name or title of the book or treatise studied, and stating the part or 
portion of each book so studied, and the time spent in studying the same, 
during each of said terms. 

The affidavit at the close of the list or catalogue of students, studies, &c. 
should be in the following form : 

County of ss. A. B. being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that 

he is principal instructor of academy ; that according to the best 

of his knowledge, information and belief, the foregoing is a just and true 
list of the names, ages, places of residence and studies, of the several students 
belonging to the department for the education of common school teachers, 
established in said academy ; that the said students, before they were ad- 
mitted into said department, were found, on examination duly made, to have 
attained such a proficiency in the arts of reading and writing, and to have 
acquired such elementary or preliminary knowledge, as is required by the 
second section of the ordinance of the Regents of the 18th of March, 1828, 
to make them students in the higher branches of English education as there- 
in defined ; that the said students have severally been exercised in composi- 
tion and declamation as often on an average as once in days, during 
the time they have been connected with said department ; and that the facts 
set forth in the report hereunto annexed are true, according to the best of 
this deponent's knowledge, information and belief. 

Sworn, &c, 

(Signed,) A. B. Principal, 6fC, 

Graduation, Sfc. 
Under this head, should be stated the names, places of residence, &c. of 
the students belonging to the department who, during the year to which the 
report relates, shall have completed the full course of studies prescribed for 
them by the Regents of the University, and received from the trustees of the 
academy the fail Diploma, contemplated in such cases to be granted to them, 
if, on examination, &c. they shall be found worthy of it. Also, under the 
same head should be stated, the names of all who, during the said year, shall 



68 

have left the department without completmg the full course, distinguishing 
such as shall have so left it, on receiving the certificate of the principal of 
the academy, of partial qualification, &c. : and distinguishing also, such as 
shall have so left the department from any other, and what cause. 

Remarks. 
Under this head, the trustees can state any thing relating to the depart- 
ment which they consider important to communicate to the Regents, and 
they are particularly requested to state the necessary expenses of the students 
for board, lodging and tuition, and the particular inducements held out by 
their institution for students to enter, &c, ; also, what they know as to the 
success of the plan adopted by the Regents, for the better education of com- 
mon school teachers, its influence on the character of common schools, 
&c. &c. 

The preceding instructions relative to reports from academies in which 
departments for the education of common school teachers have been esta- 
blished, were prepared in 1835, and published in the last edition of these in- 
structions. Since that time, an act of the Legislature has been passed, (see 
Session Laws of 1837, chap. 241, sec. 4,) by which it is provided, that all 
such academies shall make " to the Superintendent of Common Schools an 
annual report of the condition of those departments, in such form, and con- 
taining such information, as he may from time to time require; and in re- 
spect to the organization and management of the departments, and the course 
of studies therein, the said institutions shall be governed by such directions 
as he may prescribe," &c. 

The charge of the departments for common school teacherg having been 
thus transferred from the Regents of the University to the Superintendent of 
Common Schools, it became necessary that all instructions relative to those 
departments should proceed from or be approved by that officer. The in- 
structions above referred to have accordingly been submitted to and approv- 
ed by the Superintendent, who has made the following additions to them, 
and directed them to be herewith published. 

For the views of the Regents with regard to the course of instruction in 
the prescribed branches of study, see their annual report of 1835, from page 
89 to 100. The following are extracts from the Regents' report above re- 
ferred to : 

The follow^ing are the subjects of study to be pursued in the departments: 

1. The English Language. 

2. Writing and Drawing. 

3. Arithmetic, Mental and Written ; and Book-keeping. 
.4. Geography and Creneral History, combined. 

5. The History of the United States. 

6. Geometry, Trigonometry, Mensuration and Surveying. 

7. Algebra. 

8. Natural Philosophy and the Elements of Astronomy. 

9. Chemistry and Mineralogy. 

10. The Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State 
of New-York. 

1 1. Select parts of the Revised Statutes, and the duties of the Public Of- 
ficers, 

12. Moral and Intellectual Philosophy. 

13. The Principles of Teaching. 



69 

These subjects are not intended to exclude others, should the academies 
think proper to introduce them. The Regents should, however, insist that 
the foregoing be thoroughly studied, and that they be not allowed to give 
way, in any degree, to others : nor should any others be required in order 
to entitle the pupils to the prescribed evidence of qualification. 

It should be recommended to the trustees of the academies in which depart- 
ments may be established, to make the rate of tuition for those who intend in 
good faith to devote themselves to the business of teaching, as Ioav as possi- 
ble ; and to regulate the terms of instruction in such a manner, that the pu- 
pils in the teachers' department, who are sufficiently advanced, may have an 
opportunity of taking schools during the three winter months. They may, 
by this means, earn something to enable them to complete their course of 
instruction, and at the same time improve themselves by making a practical 
application of the knowledge, which they will have gained during the rest 
of the year. To accomplish this object it may be necessary to have only 
two terms per annum of four months each. The pupils must not only be 
required to comply with the entire course, but they must understand tho- 
roughly every subject of study before they receive a diploma or certificate of 
qualification. In this respect, the Boards, from whom the evidences of qua- 
lification are to issue, must practice the greatest caution. Their own and 
the public interest alike demands it. The system cannot become popular, 
unless it is made equal to its objects. A single individual educated in one 
of the proposed departments, and going forth to teach with a diploma, but 
without the requisite moral and intellectual qualifications, would do much 
to bring the whole system into disrepute. The Regents should, therefore, 
insist strongly on the fidelity of the academies to Avithhold the necessary evi- 
dence of qualification to teach, from all who are not entirely worthy of it. 

A form for a diploma is hereunto annexed, marked A, and which from 
its terms can only be given to those who have completed the course of in- 
struction prescribed by the Regents, and have passed a satisfactory exami- 
nation in all the subjects of study. 

The examination should be public, and be made in the presence of the 
principal, and a majority of the trustees of the academy. 

The diploma will not of course dispense with the necessity of a certificate 
from the inspectors of common schools of the town, in order to enable the 
individual to whom it is given, to teach a common school and receive the 
public money. The existing rule of law in this respect, will not be affect- 
ed. Every individual engaged in instructing a common school, must once 
in each year be examined by the inspectors, and receive a new certificate of 
qualification. There would be a difficulty in dispensing with this rule, as 
one of the objects of such a periodical examination, is to pass judgment upon 
the mioral character as well as the ability of the individual, who may, by 
contracting bad habits, become totally unworthy of being entrusted with the 
education of children. The only advantage, therefore, which the diploma 
will give, is the assurance, that the individual who holds it, has been regu- 
larly trained for his vocation. 

It may often happen that students will not be disposed or able to go through 
the whole of the prescribed course of instruction for teachers. In this case 
the principals of the academies should be at liberty to give them a certifi- 
cate setting forth the particular studies they have pursued, with such opinion 
of their moral character and their qualifications to teach the branches which 
they have studied, as they may be considered entitled to. But this certificate 
should be merely under the signature of the principal and not under the seal 



ro 

of the institution ; for the committee deem it of the utmost importance that 
no evidence of qualification should be given, which can be mistaken for the 
diploma received by those who have completed the prescribed course. To 
avoid all misapprehension, a form of such a certificate is hereunto annexed, 
marked B. 



( A. ) 

Diploma. 
The Regents of the University of the State of New- York, having estab- 
lished in this institution a department for the education of common school 
teachers, 

WE, the President of the Board of Trustees, and the Principal, of the 
Academy, do hereby certify that A. B. of the town of 
in the county of in the State of has completed the course 

of instruction, and passed a satisfactory examination in all the subjects of 
study prescribed by the Regents for the department ; that he has sustained, 
while at the institution, a good moral character, and that he is fully quali- 
fied to teach a common school of the first grade. In testimony whereof, we 
have hereunto affi.xed our signatures, together with the seal of the institution, 
at in the county of this day of 18 . 

A. B. President. 
C. D, Principal. 

( B. ) 

Certificate to be given to Stude7its, who have not completed the prescribed 
course of instruction for teachers. 

day of 183 

I, the Principal of the Academy, do hereby certify that A. B, 

ofthetownof in the county of and the State of 

has attended a course of instruction at this institution in the art of teaching ; 
that he has sustained a good moral character ; and although he has not com- 
pleted the course of study prescribed by the Regents of the University for 
common school teachers, he has studied, and is competent to give instruc- 
tion in the following subjects, viz : 

A. B. Priyicipal. 
P. S. If the individual is not well qualified to give instruction in all the 
subjects of study, those which he is competent to teach, should be specified. 



7\ 

Catalogue of the Regents of the University of the State of New-York, 
from the establishment of the University. 

Date of election 

or appointment. NAMES. Exitus. 

1787 George Clinton, Governor, ex officio, 1795 

1795 John Jay, Governor, ex officio, 1801 

1801 George Clinton, Governor, ex officio, 1804 

1804 Morgan Lewis, Governor, ex officio, 1807 

1807 Daniel D. Tompkins, Governor, ex officio, 1817 

1817 De Witt Clinton, Governor, ex officio, 1822 

1822 Joseph C. Yates, Governor, ex officio, 1824 

1824 De Witt Clinton, Governor, ex officio, 1828 

1828 Martin Van Buren, Governor, ex officio, • 1829 

1829 Enos T. Throop, Governor, ex officio, 1832 

1832 William L. Marcy, Governor, ex officio, 

1787 Pierre Van Cortlandt, Lieut. Governor, ex officio, 1795 

1795 Stephen Van Rensselaer, Lieut. Governor, ex officio, 1801 

1801 Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, Lieut. Governor, ex officio, 1804 

1804 John Broome, Lieut. Governor, ex officio, 1812 

1812 De Witt Clinton, Lieut. Governor, ex officio, 1814 

1814 John Tayler, Lieut. Governor, ex officio, 1822 

1822 Erastus Root, Lieut. Governor, ex officio, 1824 

1824 James Tallmadge, Lieut. Governor, ex officio, 1826 

1826 Nathaniel Pitcher, Lieut. Governor, ex officio, 1828 

1828 Enos T. Throop, Lieut. Governor, ex officio, 1830 

1830 Edward P. Livingston, Lieut. Governor, ex officio, 1832 

1832 John Tracy, Lieut. Governor, ex officio, 

1787, Apr. 13. John Rogers, D. D. died 1811 

do Egbert Benson, LL. D resigned 1802 

do Philip Schuyler, died 1804 

do Ezra L'Hommedieu, died 1811? 

do Nathan Kerr, died 1804? 

do Peter Sylvester, died 1808? 

do John Jay, LL. D resigned 1790 

do Dirck Romeyn, D. D resigned 1796 

do James Livingston, • resigned 1797 

do Ebenezer Russell, resigned 1813 

do Lewis Morris, died 1798? 

do Matthew Clarkson, died 1825 

do Benjamin Moore, resigned 1 792 

do Eliardus Westerlo, D. D died 1790 

do Andrew King, died 1815 

do William Linn, D. D. died 1808 

do Jonathan G. Tompkins, resigned 1808 

do John McDonald, resigned 1796 

do Frederick Wm. Baron De Steuben, ...... died ] 794 

1790, Mar. 30. Gulian Verplanck, died 1 800 

1791, Jan. 15. Zephaniah Piatt, died 1807 

1895. Jan. 28. James Watson, died 1806 

1796, Feb. 18. James Cochran, resigned 1819 

1797. Jan. 11. Abraham Van Vechten, LL. D. resigned 1823 

1797, Feb. 28. Thomas Ellison, died 1802 

1798, Mar. 13. Simeon De Witt, died 1834 



72 

Date of election tviaimvs! Fyitiis 

or appointment. NAMEfe. t.xitus^ 

1800 Feb 3. James Kent, LL. D. vacated 181G 

1802>eb. 1. JohnTayler, .died 1829 

1802 Feb 15. Henry Rutgers, resigned 1826 

180'^' Feb 18. Charles Selden, vacated 1816 

ISOS! Jan. 28. Ambrose Spencer, LL. D vacated 1816 

do Lucas Elmendorf, vacated 1822 

1807, Feb. 11. Elisha Jenkins, • /••• 

l808,Feb. 11. De Witt Clinton, LL.D resigned 825 

do Peter Gansevoort, died ISl/J 

do Alexander Sheldon, vacated 1816 

1809,Jan.31. Nathan Smith, vacated 1822 

1812.Feb.28. Joseph C. Yates, vacated 1833 

1812 Feb 28 Solomon Southwick, resigned 1823 

1813',Mar.3. Smith Thompson, resigned 1819 

do John Woodworth, resigned 1822 

1816, Mar. 4. Martin Van Buren, resigned 1829 

18 17', Jan. 28. John Lansing, jun .died 1828 

do John De Witt, D. D resigned 1823 

do Samuel Young, resigned 1835 

do Nathan Williams, vacated 1824 

1819, Mar. 16. Stephen Van Rensselaer, LL. D • 

1820, Feb. 1. William A. Duer, vacated 1824 

I822! Feb. 7. James Thompson, .• • • • 

do Harmanus Bleecker, resigned 1834 

1823, Feb. 14. Samuel A. Talcott, resigned 1829 

do James King, 

do Peter Wendell, M. D. • 

1823, April 9. William L. Marcy, vacated 829 

1821, Feb. 13, Peter B. Porter, resigned 830 

do Robert Troup, • • • resigned 1827 

1825, Jan. 12. John Greig, 

1826, Jan. 26, Jesse Buel, 

do Gulian C. Verplanck, ' • 

1827 Feb 20. Edward P. Livingston, resigned 1831 

I829! Feb. 14. Benjamin F. Butler, resigned 1832 

1829*, Mar. 31. Gerrit Y. Lansing, 

do John K. Paige, •• • 

do John Sudam, died 1835 

1830,April2. John P. Cushman, resigned 1834 

do John Tracy, resigned 1833 

1831, April 23. John A. Dix, • • • ••• 

1832, Feb. 6. John L. Viele, died 1832 

1833*, Feb. 5. William Campbell, 

do Erastus Corning, 

1833, April 4. Prosper M. Wetmore, 

1834, April 17. James McKown, 

do John Lorimer Graham, 

1835, Jan. 20. Amasa J. Parker, 

1835, April 8. John McLean, 

1835, May 9. Washington Irvmg, 



73 

Officers of the Board of Regents^ 

CHANCELLORS OF THE UNIVERSITY: 

Date of appointments. NAMES. Exitus. 

ir87,Julyl7. George Clinton, 1796 

1796, Jan. 20. John Jay, 1802 

1802, Feb. 15. George Clinton, • 1805 

1805, Feb. 4. Morga i Lewis, 1808 

1808, Feb. 8. Daniel D. Tompkins, 1817 

1817, Feb. 3. John Tayler, 1829 

1829, Mar. 24. Simeon De Witt, 1834 

1835, Jan. 8. Stephen Van Rensselaer, • 

VICE-CHANCELLORS. 

1787, July 17. John Jay, 1790 

1790, Mar. 31. John Rogers, D. D - 1808 

1808, Feb. 8. John Rogers, D. D. (re-appointed,) 1811 

1814, Mar. 14, John Tayler, 1817 

1817, Feb. 3. Simeon De Witt, 1829 

1829, Mar. 24. Elisha Jenkins, 

SECRETARIES, 

1787,Julyl7. Richard Harrison, 1790 

1790, April 7. Nathaniel Laurence, <= 1794 

1794, Jan. 21. De Witt Clinton, 1797 

1797, Jan. 23. David S. Jones, 179S 

1798, Mar. 19. Francis Bloodgood, 1814 

1814, Mar. 25. Gideon Hawley, 



10 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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